A study on the responses of young people from Donegal on issues relating to their everyday life experiences.

STEPS is an initiative providing counselling for young people. This study assessed the need for a STEPS centre in Donegal and the surrounding area. 267 questionnaires and queries attitudes on parents, schools, smoking, alcohol and drug use were distributed. The respondents aged from 11 to 18, with 40.4% male and 59.6% female. 35% of respondents said they consumed alcohol, with 32% drinking every week. In terms of drug use, 14% said they had used drugs, with the remainder not answering this question, suggesting that this figure may not be realistic. Of those who did take drugs, 61% said they had taken them as they 'wanted to experiment', with hash the drug experimented with most (55%) followed by solvents (39%). 42% of those interviewed said they had smoked cigarettes. Substance use was listed as a major problem for all respondents, as were bullying, family problems and peer pressure. The report concludes that a STEPS centre in Donegal would be of tremendous benefit to the youth of the area