Multilevel population-based cross-sectional study examining school substance-misuse policy and the use of cannabis, mephedrone and novel psychoactive substances among students aged 11-16 years in schools in Wales.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To examine whether young peoples' risk of cannabis, mephedrone and novel psychoactive substances (NPS) use is associated with school substance-misuse policy.

Design

A cross-sectional survey of secondary school students combined with a School Environment Questionnaire and independently coded school substance-misuse policies (2015/6).

Setting

66 secondary schools in Wales.

Participants

Students aged 11-16 years (n=18 939).

Results

The prevalence of lifetime, past 30-day and daily cannabis use was 4.8%, 2.6% and 0.7%, respectively; lifetime prevalence of mephedrone use was 1.1% and NPS use was 1.5%. Across 66 schools, 95.5% (n=63) reported having a substance-misuse policy, 93.9% (n=62) reported having a referral pathway for drug using students, s

SUBMITTER: Midgley LS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6009502 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature