Pubdate: Fri,  7 Apr 2000
Source: Daily Telegraph (UK)
Copyright: 2000 Telegraph Group Limited
Contact:  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/
Author: Celia Hall, Medical Editor

ONE IN THREE BOYS IN SCOTLAND ADMITS CARRYING A WEAPON

A THIRD of Scottish schoolboys and one in 12 girls have admitted carrying a 
formidable armoury of weapons, directly linked to their use of drugs, 
doctors have found.

Bladed weapons were the most commonly carried and included flick knives, 
switch blades, Stanley knives, craft and hunting knives, machetes, swords 
and razors. Bludgeons included baseball bats, clubs, metal pipes and 
snooker cues. Other weapons carried were knuckle dusters, catapults, 
screwdrivers and hammers.

Prof Neil McKeganey of the Centre for Drug Misuse at Glasgow University, 
said: "We were completely surprised by the high level of weapons and the 
range was quite shocking." The survey of 3,000 11 to 16 year olds found 
boys who took illegal drugs were three times more likely to carry weapons 
and girls who used drugs were five times more likely to arm themselves 
compared to children who did not use drugs.

The survey, primarily intended to measure drug use, found 92 per cent of 
boys who used five or more drugs carried weapons compared to half of boys 
who used only one drug. The study, published today in the British Medical 
Journal, says a UK study four years ago among 10,677 children found 18 per 
cent of boys and three per cent of girls aged 11 to 12, and 29 per cent of 
boys and nine per cent of girls aged 15 to 16 admitted carrying weapons.

The Scottish survey was conducted in schools in Lanarkshire and Perth and 
Kinross. In Lanarkshire, nearly 39 per cent of children said they carried 
weapons compared to 30 per cent in rural Perth and Kinross. Prof McKeganey 
said the statistics should be a "wake up call" to the Government and other 
agencies.

He said: "It was evident from our research that there is a close 
association with weapon carrying and the taking of both illegal and 
prescription drugs. It was soon made apparent to us that once drug use had 
become more apparent, the person became more heavily armed. Drugs used 
included cannabis, heroin, cocaine, ecstasy and LSD. Very few used heroin 
and cannabis was used mostly."

Prof KcKeganey said if the results had been exclusive to Glasgow "it would 
not perhaps have surprised too many people". He said: "It must raise more 
eyebrows because it was children throughout Scotland in all types of areas."

It was evident from recent tragedies that weapons were being carried in 
public places such as discos, said Prof KcKeganey. Alistair Ramsay, 
director of Scotland Against Drugs, said: "In America, there has been a 
very strong link between drugs and weapons for some time. Sadly, the link 
has become apparent in Scotland."
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