OVER half of pupils in high school aged between 15 and 17 have tried alcohol, while 47 per cent have tried smoking cigarettes at least once, according to an Education Ministry report.

The Educational Psychology Service asked 915 lyceum school pupils from across Cyprus to answer a number of questions on illegal and unhealthy substances during the academic year 2003-2004. According to yesterday’s Phileleftheros, a sample of the results was included in an annual report released by the Education Ministry. The report revealed that 5.2 per cent of pupils asked had tried at least once hashish and marijuana. A smaller number of 3.1 per cent tried at least once ecstasy tablets while 2.4 per cent tried other drugs like heroine and cocaine. The majority of pupils, over 50 per cent, had tried alcoholic drinks. A total of 47.1 per cent tried cigarettes, while one in six of those who’d tried smoking, confessed to smoking on a daily basis. The study revealed that male pupils were more likely than females to drink, smoke and take drugs. The variables most connected with use of the above substances were truancy and failure at school.

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