1) A study compared drug and alcohol use between young people in rural and urban areas using data from surveys conducted between 1997-2008. 2) The study found slightly higher rates of drug and alcohol use among 14-15 year olds in rural villages compared to urban towns. 3) Additional analysis found higher smoking and alcohol consumption among students from rural schools compared to urban schools, and higher rates of bullying reported by rural students. However, characteristics of individual communities were more predictive of substance use than whether an area was broadly rural or urban.

1. Drug and alcohol use by young people: a comparison of findings from rural and urban areas Alcohol, drugs and anti-social behaviour in rural areas: strategies to turn the tide 11 June 2009, Nottingham Angela Balding/Dr.David Regis, Schools Health Education Unit, Exeter www.sheu.org.uk and a bit about anti-social behaviour

3. Introduction

5. Young People in...

6. SHEU databanks

7. Earlier findings about urban/rural differences

10. Analysis by school description of catchment area 2008

14. Smoking last week

15. Smoking last week in urban and rural schools  : n.s.  : p <0.01

16. Alcohol use

17. Alcohol use among Y10 pupils in urban and rural schools

18. More than 10 units a week

19. More than 10 units a week (Y10) in urban and rural schools

20. Drug use

21. Drug use among Year 10 pupils in rural and urban schools n.s.

22. Types of drugs used in rural and urban schools

23. Sources of advice about drugs in rural and urban schools Y10

24. Sexual health services Y10 in rural and urban schools

25. Bullied at school last year Y10 in rural and urban schools  : n.s.  : p <0.001

26. Carrying weapons Y10

27. Analysis by local authority

31. Conclusions

34. Still, there’s always the scenery...