Growth in young people seeking addiction treatment welcomed

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by Change | 16 Apr 2009

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An increase in the number of young people seeking addiction treatment for problems with cannabis should be welcomed rather than seen as a negative reflection of British society, it has been claimed.

A rise in the number of young people admitting to addiction problems with cannabis should be considered a positive step, according to one organisation involved in addiction treatment.

Figures released by the government have shown the number of people seeking help for addiction to cannabis has grown by almost a third since it was re-classified from a class B to a class C drug in 2006.

But a spokesman for Addaction has suggested the rise in those seeking treatment is likely to be as a result of a more specific approach to help young people with drug problems, rather than being caused by a considerable increase in people taking up the drug.

"The classification doesn't really mean a great deal to them," he added.

According to an NHS report on drug misuse published in August 2008, the most commonly used drug in 2006/07 among both adults and young adults was cannabis. Furthermore, the report found that five per cent of pupils said they usually take drugs at least once a month.

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