ABSTRACT
Much is written about preventing health problems. This is based on the old adage that prevention is better than cure. In healthcare, this is true and applies equally as well to substance use. Naturally those who never use substances do not suffer the harms associated with it. While it is ideal to get teenagers to never use substances, the reality is that this will never be perfectly achieved. As discussed previously, surveys around the world suggest that a signifi cant number of children in their mid-teens have already tried drugs, with cannabis, alcohol and tobacco the most frequently used. The 2009-10 Health Behaviour of School Children Report found that 17% of students had tried cannabis, with boys more likely to do so than girls (see Box 6.1).1 And while Canada topped the chart, the United States, France, Spain and the UK all reported rates of cannabis use that were above average. It’s important to bear in mind that those who use drugs at a younger age are more likely to suffer related harm and have more severe problems than those who do not start their substance use until their late teens. For this reason, prevention should be seen to have two goals: 1 preventing adolescents from ever using substances in the fi rst place 2 delaying the age of onset of drug use.
