University News Last updated 12 April 2016
Drug users on Birmingham’s rave scene start experimenting with illegal substances when they are as young as 11, according to new research by Birmingham City University.
Criminology lecturer Cristiana Cardoso interviewed over 100 legal high and club drug users in Digbeth in October and November last year, with 44 per cent of participants revealing they started drug taking between the ages of 11 and 16.
The study also showed that a quarter of drug users are unaware of which substances they are actually taking while partying in the city’s raving hotspots.
Conducted in partnership with Birmingham City Council's ‘Reach Out Recovery’ programme, which supports people with drug and alcohol problems, Cristiana hopes the research will help with outreach and community engagement activity.
“We carried out this research to try and get a better idea of how and why people start using drugs, and to look at the habits of those taking illegal substances in the city”, said Christiana.
"Hopefully carrying out this research will help the 'Reach Out Recovery' teams to provide even better support for those whose lives are adversely affected by issues caused by drugs and alcohol."
Friendships were found to play a key role in people's use of club drugs with one in five admitting they started due to peer pressure. While 60 per cent of those questioned said they got hold of illegal substances through a friend.