Kids, tobacco and OTC drugs
January 24, 2011
THE highest rate of teenage
smoking occurs in males aged 17
years, according to the latest
findings revealed in the Australian
secondary school students’ use of
tobacco, alcohol, and over-thecounter
and illicit substances
survey (PD 21 Dec).
Around 24,000 Australian
teenagers aged between 12 and
17 years old took part in the survey,
which asked about their lifetime
use of tobacco and alcohol, as well
as OTC and illegal drugs.
In terms of tobacco usage, the
survey found that only 4% of all
participants had smoked more
than 100 cigarettes in their lifetime,
with the heaviest smokers found to
be 17 year old boys (10% having
smoked 100 cigarettes or more).
In addition, 14% of 17 year olds
who admitted to smoking were
deemed ‘current smokers’, (having
smoked in the seven days leading
up to the survey), as compared to
the lower rates of 14 year old
‘current smokers’ (7%), and 12
year old ‘current smokers’ (2%).
These figures have been
welcomed by anti-smoking pundits,
after researchers confirmed that
“the proportion of students who
smoked in the week before the
survey in 2008 was the lowest found
since the survey began [in 1984]”.
MEANWHILE the survey also
noted that analgesics were the
most commonly used substance by
Australian teens, with 90% of all
survey participants confirming that
they had used pain killers (legal or
illegal) in their lifetime.
41% of teens who said they used
analgesics, also confirmed having
used various pain killers in the
week leading up to the survey.
The most common reasons for
analgesic usage were found to be
headaches, migraines, relief of cold
and flu symptoms, whilst parents
were found to be the most
common source for obtaining the
pain killing drugs.
Other OTC drugs canvassed in the
research included inhalants, with
19% of all teens confirming that
they had used one, and usage shown
to decrease with age (23% of 12
year olds, to 14% of 17 year olds).
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 24 Jan 11To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 24 Jan 11
