128,000 children have tried a class A drug

13 April 2012

One in 25 children aged between 11 and 15 has taken a class A drug such as heroin, Ecstasy or cocaine, a survey reveals.

The startling results mean 128,000 youngsters in England have used the most dangerous type of drugs.

Yet the report was described as 'encouraging' by Ministers because it shows a small fall in the proportion drinking alcohol and taking some sorts of drugs.

This is despite also revealing that those children who are drinking are consuming more alcohol than ever.

Around 8,200 pupils in 290 secondary schools in England completed questionnaires in the autumn term of last year.

The survey by the Information Centre for Health and Social Care found the proportion of pupils who have taken a class A drug in the past year remains unchanged since 2001 at four per cent.

Nine per cent admitted they had taken drugs in the past month — slightly lower than the proportion that had done so in 2005 (11 per cent).

But cocaine was taken by two per cent — up from 1.2 per cent in 2001.

Cannabis was down from 13 per cent to ten per cent.

There was a decline in the number who said they had taken drugs in the past year, down to 17 per cent from 19 per cent in 2005.

The figures also showed that nearly 10 per cent of secondary school pupils regularly smoked in 2006.

A total of 21 per cent drank alcohol in the previous week, which maintains the decline in teenage drinking recorded in recent years.

But the overall average consumption went up from 10.5 units last year to 11.4 units.

Public Health Minister Caroline Flint said: 'This survey has revealed some very encouraging results.

'However, the cost of drug misuse to people, families and communities cannot be underestimated.'

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