Fewer Teenagers Seek Help For Misuse Of Class A Drugs
Demand amongst young people for help with problems caused by primary use of Class A drugs has fallen significantly over the last five years, according to new figures released today by the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA).
Overall, the numbers of under-18s receiving help, has stabilized. This is down to fast and effective interventions being widely available together with ongoing support from related young people's services like youth offending teams, schools, teenage pregnancy, local authorities and charities.
The agency also reports that the number of under-18s completing treatment successfully has more than doubled in five years.
Chief Executive of the NTA Paul Hayes said: "We had already identified a generational shift amongst young adults (18-24) who are turning away from Class A drugs.
"Now we learn that the same thing is happening amongst teenagers, too.
"Most young people turning to drug treatment for help have problems associated with cannabis and alcohol.
"Heavy use can lead to exclusion from school, family breakdown and crime. For those teenagers who seek help, substance misuse is usually one of a range of problems causing difficulties in their life which is why treatment services must work with partners in youth services to offer a range of support."
'Substance Misuse Among Young People: The Data for 2009-10' looks at under 18s in treatment in England. Key findings are:
* Numbers of under-18s accessing services in 2009-10 was 23,528 - down by 525 on the previous year.
* Under-18s coming in for primary use of heroin and crack has more than halved over five years while use of cocaine as primary drug has fallen by 43% in the past two years. Numbers accessing services for primary ecstasy are down by 79% in two years.
* Problems with cannabis and/or alcohol account for nine out of ten of all cases of young people receiving help during the year.
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