Alcohol, cigarette and marijuana use during adolescence is a major cause for concern. The 2003 wave of the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and other Drugs (ESPAD) suggested that 91% of 15–16-year-olds in the United Kingdom have tried alcohol and 68% have been drunk within the last year [9]. This is higher than the European average for this age group (83% and 53%, respectively). Similarly, life-time prevalence of marijuana in this age group is also higher than the European average (38% versus 21%). Life-time use of cigarettes is somewhat lower (58% versus 66%); however, given the serious health outcomes associated with smoking, these prevalence rates are still of concern.
