Teenage drug use on the rise

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by Change | 7 Oct 2008

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The prevalence of teenage drug addiction in England is increasing, according to a recent report.

More young people aged 16 or 17-years-old are undergoing treatment for drug addiction in England than two years ago, according to the latest research.

Figures from the National Treatment Agency show a 30 per cent increase in this age group seeking help for the problem, from 6,058 teenagers in 2006/07 to 7,857 in 2007/08.

Among the findings it was revealed cocaine is becoming the "fashionable drug of choice", with a 67 per cent rise in youngsters getting cocaine addiction treatment in the same time period, the Daily Mail reports.

Commenting on the figures, a spokesperson from drug charity Addiction told the newspaper: "Cocaine is relatively cheap and easily available, so it is not surprising to us that more young people are in treatment for cocaine use."

It was also found 17 per cent more under-16s received addiction support, a rise described as "worrying" by the publication.

The 2007/08 period saw 202,666 people across all ages being treated for drug abuse, representing a rise of four per cent from the year before.

In other news, drug addict Leo Geraghty has been jailed for 23 months for beating his girlfriend, reports the Liverpool Daily Post.

Their relationship had reportedly started based on crack cocaine and alcohol addictions.

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