For the small percentage of under-18s who get into difficulties with drugs or alcohol, the problems can become significant…
SUBSTANCE MISUSE AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE 2011-12
Drug use among under-18s in England is always a cause for concern. Stories of teenagers drinking alcohol, smoking cannabis, or using drugs such as mephedrone are never far from the headlines. But while we might assume drug use is rife among this age group, the reality is less sensational: according to the most recent NHS Information Centre schools survey, the proportion of 11 to 15-year-olds who said they had ever used drugs fell from 29% in 2001 to 17% in 2011, while those who reported drinking regularly fell from 20% in 2001 to 7% in 2011. An even smaller percentage get into difficulties with alcohol or drugs. This year’s data shows that 20,688 young people accessed specialist alcohol or drug services, which amounts to 0.4% of the total population of around 5.5 million young people aged nine to 17 in England.
But for these 20,000 or so young people, alcohol and drug use can become a significant problem. It affects their health and wellbeing, their education, their family life, their security, their future. It is also often a symptom of wider issues in their lives. Some of them present with complex and wide-ranging problems. And while specialist substance misuse services are currently meeting this demand, they need to remain vigilant and ready to respond to any emerging drug and alcohol problems among young people…
