Children 'can name illegal drugs'

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The poll for health education charity Life Education also found that a fifth of 10 year olds believe heroin is legal.

In all, the poll of 1,500 youngsters aged nine to 11 found 56% could name at least four drugs.

Cocaine was the most widely known drug, named by 71% of children.

It was even better known than cannabis, which was mentioned by 64% of youngsters.

The main reason children believe people take drugs is to "make them look cool", mentioned by 38% of those polled.

Life Education's Stephen Burgess said: "It is no use pretending that children under 11 don't know about drugs.

"These results show that they do and in order for them to approach the potentially challenging period of adolescence knowing the full facts rather than responding to hearsay and peer pressure, we need to reach children early - at primary school.

"That is the only hope we have of stemming the ongoing issues so many adults face with drugs."

The survey was conducted by the charity itself in schools in England and Northern Ireland.