While it is natural for most of you to experiment while you are growing up, how well you handle the substance and alcohol scene is up to you.
Research shows that if you are well informed about sensible use and the possible dangers, you are less likely to develop a serious problem.
Studies by the charity Alcohol Concern show that drinking, particularly binge drinking is on the increase among young people.
In one study, 47 per cent of 15-year-olds had drunk alcohol in the previous week.
Research also shows that one in three 14-year-olds have tried drugs and by the age of 16, four out of ten young people will have tried at least one type of drug.
It is also a known fact that young people are more likely to have risky sex (e.g. without contraception, with lots of different partners or unintended sex) when under the influence of alcohol. As many as one-in-14, 15 to 16-year-olds said they’d had unprotected sex after drinking.
And up to 40 per cent of sexually active 13 to 14-year-olds were ‘drunk or stoned’ when having sex for the first time.
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