Associations between drinking, smoking and illicit drug use among adolescents in the Western Isles of Scotland: Implications for harm minimization

Anderson, Kellie; Plant, Martin; Plant, Moira

Abstract

The results of a 1994 survey of 804 school pupils aged 13- 16 years in the Western Isles of Scotland were examined in the light of preliminary findings of extreme and unusual polarization of drinking habits among the respondents. Further analysis revealed that abstainers and heavy drinkers were distinctive in relation to both tobacco and illicit drug use, with abstainers reporting substantially less experience of these substances. There were also significant differences between drinking status categories (light, moderate, heavy) in alcohol use characteristics. Some aspects of these drinking patterns were similar to those among teenagers in the Faroe Islands and Iceland. The results in the special context of the Western Isles are discussed in the light of available evidence on the problems of preventing heavy drinking by young people. It is concluded that health promotion is important. Even so, past experience suggests that youthful heavy drinking is best curbed by use of a combination of policies to regulate the context in which drinking commonly occurs. © 1998 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved.

Citation

Anderson, K., Plant, M., & Plant, M. (1998). Associations between drinking, smoking and illicit drug use among adolescents in the Western Isles of Scotland: Implications for harm minimization. Journal of Substance Use, 3(1), 13-20. https://doi.org/10.3109/14659899809053465

• Journal Article Type: Review
• Publication Date: Dec 1, 1998
• Journal: Journal of Substance Use
• Print ISSN: 1465-9891
• Electronic ISSN: 1475-9942
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 3
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 13-20
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3109/14659899809053465
• Keywords: alcohol, drugs, smoking, Scotland, teenagers
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/1100126
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/14659899809053465