SPORTY teenagers are far less likely to dabble with drugs, according to a report.

A study of teenage life-styles by a team at Newcastle University suggests that sport is an excellent way of discouraging youngsters from experimenting with illicit substances.

It also suggests traditional family life helps to insulate youngsters from the drug culture.

Dr Paul McArdle, of Newcastle University's department of child health, led a research project which looked at the lifestyles of 3,887 15-year-olds in five European cities.

They found that for boys and girls, participation in sport was closely linked to reduced drug use.

Higher levels of drug use were closely linked to anti-social, delinquent behaviour.

Nearly a third of the 15-year-olds in Newcastle admitted using drugs, including cannabis, amphetamine, Ecstasy, tranquillisers or LSD.

Of the five cities the highest rates of drug use were found in Newcastle (29.8 per cent), Dublin (29.7 per cent), followed by Bremen (24.6 per cent), Rome (22.9 per cent) and Groningen (19.0 per cent).

In a report published in the academic journal, European Addiction Research, the research team says the evidence point to "a much more widespread engagement of young people in sport, or its equivalent, may offer significant potential for the universal prevention of drug use, as well as for the enhancement of physical health."

The team also recommends that, because of the close link between delinquency and drug use, early intervention in antisocial behaviour, possibly by schools, may be key factors in the prevention of drug use.

The research project, funded by the European Commission, confirmed the findings of different studies that there are different rates of drug use in different cities across Europe, with Britain and Ireland having particularly high levels.

Traditional family structures seemed to be a good barrier against drug-taking in Bremen, Rome and Groningen - but less so for boys living in Newcastle and Dublin.

A possible reason is that "low risk" studious boys may come into contact with other drug-using teenagers.

Girls are more restrained by traditional families, limiting their contact with older boys who may encourage them to take drugs.

Researchers say that the evidence suggests that drug taking levels would be much lower if the highest risk factors, including delinquency, were removed.

The team found that among young people living in traditional families, drug use was "quite uncommon", and, in general, drug-taking should not be regarded as inevitable behaviour among teenagers.