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Statistics on Young People and Drug Misuse - England, 2006
Official statistics, National statistics- Publication Date:
- 25 May 2006
- Geographic Coverage:
- England, Wales
- Geographical Granularity:
- Ambulance Trusts, Regions, Country, Government Office Regions
- Date Range:
- 01 Jan 2005 to 31 Dec 2005
Summary
This statistical bulletin, which focuses on young people, presents a range of data on drug misuse, drawn together from a variety of sources. The topics covered include drug misuse and attitudes to drug taking among secondary school children, drug misuse among young people, drugs and crime, drug treatment, morbidity and a summary of government plans and targets in this area.
Highlights
- In 2005, 11 per cent of secondary school children in England reported using drugs in the month prior to interview while 19 per cent reported using drugs in the year prior to interview;
- Among 11 year olds, 4 per cent had sniffed volatile substances in the last year while 1 per cent had taken cannabis. Among 15 year olds, 7 per cent reported using volatile substances compared to 27 per cent who used cannabis;
- Among secondary school children who had taken drugs in the year prior to interview in 2003, 43 per cent reported wanting to give up immediately, but 13 per cent said they did not want to stop;
- In 2003, 17 per cent of secondary school children thought it was acceptable to try cannabis, 10 per cent thought it acceptable to try sniffing glue and 4 per cent believed it OK to try cocaine;
- 26.3 per cent of young adults aged 16-24 reported using drugs in the year prior to interview in England and Wales in 2004/05. 16.3 per cent had used drugs in the month prior to interview. Almost half (45.8 per cent) reported that they had ever used drugs;
- More young men than young women reported using drugs in the year prior to interview (32.9 per cent compared with 20.8 per cent); Between 1998 and 2004/05, the reported prevalence of drug use among young adults in the month prior to interview decreased from 20.8 per cent to 16.3 per cent and in the year prior to interview decreased from 31.8 per cent to 26.3 per cent;
- Among young people aged between 10 and 25 living in England and Wales in 2004 who had ever used drugs, almost half (48 per cent) reported first using a drug between the ages of 10 and 15; Deaths related to drug misuse fell between 2000 and 2004. Among young people under the age of 30, deaths fell from 583 to 401.
Resources
Last edited: 11 April 2018 5:24 pm