DRUGS A GROWING CONCERN FOR YOUNG AUSTRALIANS

The 2008 National Survey of Young Australians has found that body image, drugs and family conflict are the biggest worries for 11-24 year olds with one-in-four regarding each as major concerns.

The national survey, conducted by the charity Mission Australia, tested the views of more than 45,000 young people between the ages of 11-24 (97.7 per cent between 11-19). Body image was ranked most frequently in the top three concerns by 26.3 per cent of respondents, closely followed by drugs at 26 per cent and family conflict at 25.9 per cent.

However, concern about drugs increased from 22.9 per cent to 31.2 per cent, most notably among the 11-14 age group who were twice as likely as 20-24 year olds to identify it as a major issue. Only 16.6 per cent of 20-24 year olds view drugs as a key problem. According to Mission Australia's spokesperson, Anne Hampshire, the results suggest that early adolescence is the key time when young people are most likely to be open to drug education campaigns.

The concerns 11-14 year olds have about drugs are varied. They worry about friends and family taking drugs, whether they'll be able to resist peer pressure to experiment and most of all the damage drugs do. The survey results show that for young people in their late teens or early 20s there is a relative decline in their concern about drugs. This suggests that drug education campaigns really need to be targeted at 11-14 year olds. That's when they are most open to be equipped with the strategies they need to deal with the issue.

This year's survey uncovered a range of other important issues. "Included in the survey for the first time, personal safety was rated as a major concern by almost a quarter of young people (22.9 per cent) and came in fifth on the list above bullying/emotional abuse (22.6 per cent) and physical/sexual abuse (22.6 per cent). "Far from the media's portrayal of young people as highly materialistic, when asked what they value, financial security lags way behind family and friends. And young males are twice as likely as young females to highly value getting a job.

This seventh national youth survey was conducted online and through schools, colleges and youth services with the help of government agencies and community and corporate partners. Of the survey's respondents, around 2,500 identified as Indigenous (5.7 per cent); 6,800 spoke a language other than English at home (14.8 per cent); and 375 indicated they were either homeless or living in insecure housing. "The survey found that respondents are likely to turn to friends and family for help, and close to 84 per cent felt they have adequate information on issues that concern them.

Ms Hampshire said that while the survey indicated Indigenous and non-Indigenous young Australians shared many similarities, it also uncovered some stark differences. "For example, alcohol was the second highest issue of concern for Indigenous respondents at 31.2 per cent compared to 20.1 per cent of their non-Indigenous counterparts. And turning popular stereotypes on their head, young Indigenous people place a higher value on getting a job (24.4 per cent) over their non-Indigenous peers (16.3 per cent).

"It's also clear from the survey that many young people are active and engaged in their communities through their participation in sports, arts and cultural activities and volunteering. Close to 40 per cent of young adult respondents were volunteering. "Mission Australia's National Survey of Young Australians gives young people a voice about a range of issues which are important to them. It helps promote discussion among parents and their children - and among young people themselves - about the things that concern them.

"It also helps governments, educators and social policymakers produce information and develop services and programs for young people that are pertinent to their needs. "Close to 100 high schools organised their students to participate in this year's survey and will receive a report based on their own school's results. These reports provide schools with localised student data and enable them to better target strategies and support," Ms Hampshire said.

Prayer point:

* Pray that young people would be able to stand against peer pressure that would ensnare them in such things as drug taking and sexual immorality.

Source: Mission Australia

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