RSS web feeds 
Share 
Print 
Email 
Save Substance misuse: Drugs, including volatile substance abuse (VSA)
The DCSF has the policy-lead across Government for young people and substance misuse (including drugs, alcohol and volatile substances such as glue, gas and solvents), aiming to reduce the level of substance misuse and the degree of associated harms, as set out in the ten-year Drug Strategy, Drugs: Protecting Families and Communities (Feb 08), and in the PSA 14 indicator on substance misuse by young people.
From autumn 2008, the DCSF also took over the policy-lead on volatile substance abuse for under-18s from the Department of Health.
Key data
- 75% of young people (aged 11-15) in 2007 have never tried a drug; a 5% increase compared with 2003.*
- 5% of young people (aged 11-15) in 2007 usually take a drug at least once a month; 2% less than in 2003.*
- 14% of vulnerable young people (aged 11-15) in 2007 usually take a drug at least once a month; 1/3 less than in 2003.*
- England ranks 10th among 40 European countries and USA for recent cannabis use by 15-year-olds, an improvement on 3rd position in 2001-02.***
- Substance misuse is linked to poor outcomes for young people, such as health problems, school failure, addiction and involvement in crime.
- In under-18-year-olds there were 5 VSA deaths in 2006 compared with 8 in 2005 and 13 in 2004.**
- VSA deaths overall continue to be more common among males than females. In 2006, there were three times as many male as female deaths although in the under-18-year-olds there were no female deaths.**
- In 2006 the youngest person to die was aged 15 and the oldest (a suicide) was aged 72. For the period 1971-2005 the median age of death was 18 years and for 2006 it was 33.**
* Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use by Young People in England 2007
** Deaths associated with volatile substance, 2008
*** HBCS Study 2005-06
Download the contents of this page:
as a Word Document
Last updated on 27/04/2009
