Study title

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

The Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey (SALSUS) is the primary source of data on substance using behaviour among young people in Scotland. SALSUS comprises a long running series of national surveys of young people's substance use. From 1982 to 2000 these surveys were carried out jointly in Scotland and England to provide national information on smoking behaviour (from 1982), drinking behaviour (from 1990) and drug use (from 1998). In 2002, Scotland introduced its own (SALSUS) survey which provides national policy makers with vital information to help develop and evaluate policies to reduce the prevalence of substance use in Scotland and to monitor progress towards achieving Scottish Government targets. Every four years the survey also provides information on substance use for local areas. These data are used to help inform local service planning, for example, to develop Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP) strategic and delivery plans and to monitor progress towards achieving a number of the ADP core indicators. All SALSUS datasets are available via the UK Data Archive.

Further information about the series is available from the NHS National Services Scotland Information Services Division SALSUS webpage and from the Scottish Government SALSUS webpages.

August 2013: Variables excls1-4, covering school exclusions in years 1-4 were removed from the 2002, 2004 and 2006 data at the request of the NHS National Services Scotland's Caldicott Guardian.
Main Topics:

Substance use and lifestyle choices amongst secondary school pupils.