Cannabis use among schoolchildren in Ireland Item type Other

HBSC Ireland 2006 has found that 12.4 % of school-children in Ireland report using cannabis in the past 12 months (14.3 % of boys and 10.4 % of girls). This figure represents a slight increase since 1998 (10.3%). The percentage of children that have used cannabis is higher among older children; 2 % of boys and 0.3 % of girls aged 10-11 years and 24.6 % of boys and 20.4 % of girls in the 15-17 year old age group. Children who have used cannabis in the past 12 months are less likely to: find it easy to talk to their parents, like school, live with both parents, report excellent health and be happy about their lives. They are more likely to report feeling pressured by schoolwork and spend four or more evenings per week with friends. Cannabis use in this factsheet refers to children who have used cannabis once or more in the last 12 months. Why this topic? Drug use among young people is a major concern because of its associations with antisocial and criminal behaviour and threat to public health2. Early cannabis use has been found to increase the risk of problem behaviours in older adolescents and adulthood, including licit and illicit drugs use, risky sexual behaviour, academic failure and delinquency3,4. Trends 2002-2006 Overall the percentage of children reporting cannabis use in the past 12 months has remained relatively stable between 2002 (11.1%) and 2006 (12.4%). Prevalence of reported use was stable in every age and gender group, with the exception of boys aged 15-17 years whose reported usage decreased from 30.5 % to 24.6 % over this time frame