http://www.sundayherald.com/44605
Stephen Naysmith
"TEENAGERS from lone- parent families are more likely to abuse alcohol, take up smoking and use illegal drugs, according to new research.
The findings, made by psychologists inves t igating bullying will encourage traditionalists, but both res earchers and campaigners insisted they should not be used to undermine single parents.
The Social Inclusion and Diversity Research unit at York St John College is undertaking long-term research into bullying among young people. They questioned 1832 12 to 16-year-olds about drug and alcohol use and gathered information about their family background.
Adolescents from lone- father families were more likely than any other group to experiment with illegal drugs, particularly cannabis: 31% used illegal drugs compared with 16% of those from two-parent households. They were also, at 28%, more likely to smoke tobacco .
Almost a quarter of those from lone-mother families used illegal drugs. They were also the most likely of all family groups to use alcohol, 83% of them reporting underage drinking � although this figure was high for all groups, at around 80%."
