Youths on cannabis double in eight years
The number of students aged 15 and 16 dabbling in cannabis has practically doubled over eight years even though Maltese teenagers' use of the substance remained below the European average, a report has shown.
Although 13 per cent of students used cannabis in 2007, when compared to seven per cent in 1999, Malta remained under the European average of 19 per cent, according to the latest European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (Espad).
The 2007 survey looked into trends and gave a comprehensive picture of licit and illicit drug use among adolescents in 35 European countries. Local research for the most recent survey, launched yesterday, was carried out between January and March 2007 and involved 3,500 students. Sedqa clinical director George Grech said the survey showed an increased use of stimulants, like cocaine, among students.
"While it is not alarming, it is indicative... What concerns me is that cannabis has been linked to psychosis and can be more damaging to young people who are still developing," he said.
Results for Malta showed the use of inhalants, such as glues, were almost double the total country average with 16 per cent of teenagers admitting to having tried them when compared to the nine per cent European average.
Dr Grech said the use of inhalants had always worried people in the profession because they did not come into contact with youngsters who inhaled these damaging substances.
The combined use of alcohol with pills was also higher in Malta, standing at 11 per cent, compared to the Espad countries that averaged at six per cent. Alcohol consumption in Malta stood at 87 per cent, slightly higher than the 82 per cent Espad average but it remained the number one problem.
Dr Grech said he was particularly worried about the repeated use of alcohol and wanted to see the minimum drinking age upped to 18 from 17 and the present law enforced.
The survey showed that heavy episodic drinking "in the past 30 days" increased through the years in Malta, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Portugal and the Slovak Republic.
Sharon Arpa, a research senior executive, explained that the local research was carried out before the legal drinking age was increased from 16 to 17 in summer 2007. Therefore, the effect of this law would only be measured in the 2011 Espad study.
She said the survey showed that about 55 per cent of Maltese students had first tasted wine before the age 13 while just under 50 per cent had tried beer at that age.
When it came to spirits, most, that is under 40 per cent, tried them between the age of 14 and 15 while about 35 per cent first sipped them when under 13.
As to the repercussions of alcohol, most Maltese students said they performed badly at school or work (about 15 per cent), had problems with parents and friends (about 13 per cent), got involved in fights (about 13 per cent) or had sex without a condom (10 per cent).
The overall results of Maltese students using tranquillisers or sedatives without a prescription (five per cent) and smoking (26 per cent), were lower than the Espad averages (six and 29 per cent, respectively).
Education Minister Dolores Cristina said it was important to look into why teenagers were experimenting with substances. One reason, she said, was lack of self-esteem.
The education reform would help ensure these children did not feel less competent than their peers as it aimed to bring out the skills of individuals rather than stream them into groups.
Social Policy Minister John Dalli agreed with the concept of tackling the problem at its roots. One way was ensuring that substances were not easily accessible to vulnerable young people.
He said prices of alcohol and cigarettes in Malta were still low compared to other countries.
Action had to be taken to address the type of role models young people were exposed to through entertainment media. All too often, these role models got attention when they suffered from some form of abuse problem. Such role models encouraged a culture of irresponsibility and egoism that were the roots of many social problems, he said.
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Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi
Apr 20th 2009, 02:05
@ Anthony Girard,
Any substance can be abused including food.
No one is advocating cannabis use for children and or teenagers.
Cannabis has never been known to have killed anyone and it is not physically addictive like tobacco or alcohol.
People under its influence are not a danger to anyone if they are not driving or operating machinery, and no one starts fights on it like they do with alcohol.
If one drug in the world should be banned it should be alcohol, yet it is legal and heavily promoted and found on every corner in Malta.
Cannabis has many therapeutic uses that are well known.
Google the British Army report on Cannabis by Dr Wm. O'Shaughessy of 1850.
Big Pharma would not like people to know the effectiveness of cannabis on many ailments, & their control on many world governments by their lobby/money keeps cannabis illegal
anthony girard
Mar 31st 2009, 10:57
@Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi and Johann Vella
Substance dependence ( and this includes alcohol) is a progressive condition and the earlier one starts using ( and/or abusing) the more risk there is of dependency.
FACT 1
The vast majority of substance ( all mind and mood altering substances) dependent persons starting using at an early age ( 12/13/14)
FACT 2
marijuana IS a drug and a dengerous one. We have many ( virtually) psychotic heavy users still in their 20's
FACT 3
alcohol abuse is the biggest substance abuse problem in the Maltese Islands and the point of entry of the vast majority of (eventual) heavy drug dependent persons here in Malta and Gozo.
PS: the second drug used is invariably cannabis
FACT 4
Regulation is necessary to protect those who are most at risk; and 12/13 year old's are most at risk, believe me !
Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi
Mar 28th 2009, 12:30
I agree with Johann on this issue.
People should watch Rick Simpson's "Run From The Cure " on Google as to what is being held back from mankind.
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-7331006790306000271
johann vella
Mar 28th 2009, 11:27
@ anthony girard
with your same argument, dont we know that alcohol has 'effect on the human brain'?
dont you think that cigarettes have an 'effect on the human lung'?
alas,dont you think that even excessive FOOD can have an 'effect on the human body'!
yet these are all legal.
the thing is youths want adventure. they want to get drunk to impress. marijuana is a completely different thing.
It is an 'only in malta' thing that marijuana is considered a 'drug' by experts like George Grech.
No Maltese party has the guts to stand in favour of marijuana just for the simple fact that the opposing party will jump on the stance like a hungry wolf on a helpless chicken voicing that the party who took the stand is in favour of drugs!!
In Malta it s all about votes and experts. where s the free will?
Drugs and alcohol are here to stay. fact. are you winning in beating people to stop their usage? no. those are the facts.
obviously my stand is in favour of marijuana,which I do not consider a drug.
Anthony Girard
Mar 27th 2009, 17:01
Once again the age factor in alcohol use ( abuse more likely) keeps cropping up. How long are we going to be faced with statistics on the serious repercussions of early indulgence in alcohol by children and dilly-dally about doing something concrete and making sure it is applied. @ johann vella Cannabis is a dangerous substance and Dr. George Grech has been sayinfg this for as long as I have known him. We have seen visuals of it's effect on the human brain............25 or not 25.
Vincent Galea
Mar 27th 2009, 16:57
While we parents want only the best for our children, we usually end up getting the opposite results.Giving them too many toys. too much money and an abundance of other luxuries surely will not compensate for the lack of interest the average busy working parent gives to our children. Giving time means we show a real interest in what's going on in their life.They should see and feel that we are making an effort to get closer to their world. If they were to be with me these past six weeks in hospital they will get a better picture of what good health really means !!
johann vella
Mar 27th 2009, 15:12
it is no surprise.but in my opinion 16 year old should not be dabbling in drugs,a;though nothing is being done to stop them. they drink and use drugs at will.
but for us over 25 cannabis should be legalised.
The problem here is that ,as usual cannabis use ( my point is obviously for over 18s) is still being considered 'drug usage'.
"While it is not alarming, it is indicative... What concerns me is that cannabis has been linked to psychosis and can be more damaging to young people who are still developing," he said.
so why isnt it ok for 'developed people'??
j
Please choose the reason of your report below: