TEENAGE girls are taking more risks with their health, according to a major survey of nine to 15-year-olds across Cumbria.
The survey showed that by the time they are 15, 36 per cent of girls will be occasional or regular smokers, compared to 13 per cent of boys.
At the same age, 57 per cent of boys and 59 per cent of girls will have had an alcoholic drink in the last week.
The statistics show that girls' drinking is increasing faster than their male friends.
More than 1,800 youngsters, including one-third from south Cumbria, completed a lengthy questionnaire for the survey.
It came in the same week as Prime Minister Tony Blair suggested that random drug tests would be allowed in schools.
See Education and Health for the full story.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article