Half of British teens use alcohol

United Press International

London, March 25 - One in five high school students have taken illegal drugs and 50 percent of 15-year-olds have had a drink in the past week, a government survey found.

The Information Centre for Health and Social Care surveyed 9,000 11- to 15-year-olds and also found that 25 percent of teens said they had been offered marijuana; 12 percent had tried other drugs; and 4 percent had taken cocaine, heroin, ecstasy or LSD, the Daily Telegraph reported Saturday.

Ten percent of the girls said they smoked cigarettes, compared with 7 percent of boys -- but 1 percent of 11-year-olds said they smoked, compared with 20 percent of those age 15.

"The survey illustrates that the levels of drugs, drink and cigarettes used by children ages 11 to 15 have remained constant for the past five years despite increased attention to such behavior," said Denise Lievesley, the center's chief executive.