The following survey findings highlight a strong need for drug use prevention:

 

there is evidence that the earlier a person starts taking drugs, the greater the

likelihood that they will develop more serious health and drug problems over

time compared to those who abstain at a younger age (Lynskey et al, 2003).

 

 

Research has also shown that there are strong links between drug use and poor

academic performance (Ellickson et al, 2002), truancy (Hallfors et al, 2002) and

initiation into criminal activity (South and Teeman, 1999.