Here are some of the statistics and insights gained from the "Knowing Someone Cares" study published by the Community Action Youth and Drugs team at Auckland Council, funded by the Ministry of Health.
*note: the study was of at-risk young people, generally outside or at risk of dropping out of mainstream education.
- 59% had their first drink at under 14; 14% under 10
- 48% had their first alcohol black out aged 13 or 14; 13% under 13
- 51% binge drank at least once a week; 17% binge drank daily
- 43% had unsafe sex when drinking
- 62% used cannabis compared to 23% of mainstream youth
- 42% had tried synthetics
- Some 14-17 year olds we interviewed had been addicted to synthetics for 2 - 8 months and reported significant harms - stealing, bad buzzes, disengagement with any activities, living on the streets, hospitalisation and physical harms or injury
- 18-24 year olds reported using synthetics significantly less than the younger age groups and the majority of young people once they tried synthetics didn’t want to use them anymore
- 10% – 15% tried other drugs such as ecstasy, hallucinogens, amphetamines, inhalants and prescription drugs
