Women more likely than men to dabble with drugs

YOUNG women are more likely to have tried recreational drugs than their male counterparts, according to a new survey.

A poll by the Edinburgh-based drugs agency Crew 2000 found that a quarter of women questioned said they had taken amphetamine or Ecstasy, while almost half had used cannabis and more than one in five had tried cocaine.

The survey, published yesterday, also said 10% had taken ketamine – an anaesthetic used by vets – 18% had tried hallucinogenic mushrooms and more than 55% had smoked.

The figures for men were lower, with about 15% admitting to taking amphetamines, ecstasy, cocaine or magic mushrooms. Just under 7% of young men said they had taken ketamine and 45% reported using cannabis, while less than a third said they smoked.

Carla Ellis, Crew 2000's operations manager, told the Scotsman newspaper: "Girls mature at an earlier age (than boys] and are subjected to a range of role models from celebrities like Kate Moss to other adult influences."