NCJ Number
224076
Date Published
2008
Length
144 pages
Annotation
This report presents statistical information on drug misuse by adult and youth in England for 2008 and summarizes government plans and targets in the area of drug misuse.
Abstract
Findings show that drug use has fallen in recent years for both adults and children. Hospital admissions with a primary diagnosis of a drug-related mental health and behavioral disorder have decreased, while admissions with a primary diagnosis of poisoning by drugs have increased. The number in contact with structured drug treatment services have also increased while the number of drug related deaths shows no overall trend. More men than women had used drugs in the last year, been in contact with structured drug treatment services and died as a result of drug misuse. Highlights of key findings include: (1) in 2006-2007, 10.0 percent of adults aged 16 to 59 living in England and Wales had used 1 or more illicit drugs in the last year, a decrease from 12.1 percent in 1998; (2) for young adults aged 16 to 24, drug use in the last year fell between 1998 and 2006-2007, from 31.8 percent to 24.1 percent; (3) the most common drug in 2006-2007 among both all adults and young adults was cannabis with cocaine the next most commonly used drug; (4) in 2007, 10 percent of pupils in England aged 11 to 15 reported taking drugs in the last month, a fall from 12 percent in 2001; (5) drug use increased with age among 11 year olds 3 percent reported taking drugs in the last month compared with 17 percent of 15 year olds; and (6) during 2006-2007, 195,464 people were in contact with structured drug treatment service; over double the number reported in 1998-1999 (N = 85,000). This statistical report presents a range of information on drug misuse, primarily illicit drugs, among both adults and children in England. Figures, tables and appendices A-F