How many of them really take drugs? - the detail

Facts are hard to establish because illegal drug taking is usually hidden from view.
The following is based on the most up-to-date Home Office research.
For more information visit their web site: www.homeoffice.gov.uk.
They 've a lot of information and reports for those of you who want the detail and the statistics.

When do they start taking drugs?
The earliest 'drugs' young people take are alcohol and tobacco at around 13-14
(see What about Alcohol?, below)
Here are the average ages of 'first-use' of illegal drugs. They vary according to geographical area and other factors. It's just an average. Some start earlier, others later.

Do soft drugs lead to hard drugs?
There is no evidence to prove this.

Does using drugs lead automatically to crime?
No, young people tend to start other crime activity earlier than drug taking.

Are we awash with drugs?
It's easier for young people to come into contact with drugs nowadays than when their parents were young.
6 in 10 of 14 year-olds and 8 in 10 of 16 year-olds have been in a situation where drugs where available or offered to them.

Are the pressures greater?
60% of young people have tried an illicit drug by late adolescence.
That's a significant increase from 1989 -1999, though it's believed that may have stopped increasing.
Over age 13, 90% of young people recognise the more common drugs, particularly the slang names.

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So, they're all at it?
No. Let's look at those figures again.
Between a quarter and one-third of young people try drugs then stop.
So, if only 60% have tried a drug, that means 40% haven't.
And if a third of those who try them (15-20% of all young people),
then stop, that's 55-60% who either never take them or try a bit then stop.

Most young people don't go on to become drug users, whether short term or long term.
And the ones who do carry on mostly take softer drugs and often stop eventually.

Catch them young
They're starting younger: 1 in 12 of 12-year olds have tried drugs at least once, as have 1 in 3 of 14-year olds and 2 in 5 of 16-year olds. So you need to think about how to tackle these issues with your children.


What about alcohol?
Smoking and alcohol use are widespread among young people, starting at around age 13-14 on average.
One serious problem is the large numbers of young people involved in binge drinking.
Women are outstripping men in the amounts of alcohol drunk in some areas.

Part of the Culture
Growing numbers of children are brought up in households and communities where drugs and alcohol are openly used.
One issue is the relationship to cultural norms.
Alcohol is acceptable in law, and ecstasy isn’t.
In the 1900's it was socially acceptable to use opiates in patent medicines for both children and adults.
Many notable figures are thought to have been addicted to preparations such as laudanum.

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