Key concepts, trends & statistics
Introduction
It is worth remembering that most people who use drugs do not come to serious harm. But for some people, their drug use leads to particular problems.
At some stage in your work, you will encounter people who use illicit drugs, alcohol and solvents. Reports have highlighted the widespread use and problem use of drugs and have stressed the need for both specialist and non-specialist workers to respond to drug related issues. There is some expectation that those that work in frontline services are able to identify the particular substance use needs of young people, and to be able to resound, at least in part, to those needs. Some of the responses may be in-house, and some will mean working with other service providers, particularly young people's drug and alcohol agencies.
You are expected to be able to identify young people's substance related needs. This website, with local training, will help you do this.
Key concepts
"...harmful drug use rarely occurs without predisposing social or psychological problems."
(HAS 1996).
"Many of the risk factors for adolescent drug use also predict other adolescent problem behaviours."
(Hawkins et al. 1988).
All young people potentially could use drugs. But there is a group of young people deemed vulnerable young people, both to a pattern of experimental drug use, and to being less able to deal with the consequences if problematic drug use develops.
The Health Advisory Service recommends that all those working with young people participate in training that includes:
Awareness of the professional's own attitudes towards, and experiences of substance use and misuse and how these may impact on their work wit people who use and/or misuse substances.
Health Advisory Service (1996)
You may wish to ask yourself a number of questions relating to attitudes and drug use.
- How do you think your attitudes towards drug users compare to those of your colleagues?
- How might your attitudes compare with the young people you work with?
- What are the implications your attitudes might this have for your drugs work with young people?
Key points
- Young people have range of attitudes to drug use.
- Their parents and carers will have a range of attitudes.
- The various organisations you work in partnership with may have a range of stances, which may differ from some of the above attitudes.
Trends
Attitudes to and experience of illegal drugs 1987–2004, from the SHEU (http://www.sheu.org.uk), uses a sample of 69,847 young people between the ages of 10 and 15 from across the UK. The data is taken from The Health Related Behaviour Questionnaire surveys across schools in the UK.
When looking over the figures since 1987, young people in recent years are more likely to...
- have been offered drugs (up to 53% of 14-15 year olds in 2002)
- have been offered cannabis (up to 48% of 14-15 year old males in 2002)
- have taken drugs (up to 33% of 14-15 year olds in 1996)
- have taken cannabis (up to 29% of 14-15 year old olds)
- think that amphetamines are 'always unsafe' and - as pupils get older - fewer think that cannabis is 'always unsafe'
They have also found that young people in recent years are less likely to...
- know (personally) a drug user (up to 70% of older pupils in the mid-1990s)
- worry about drugs (between 1993-1999 declining numbers reported worrying 'quite a lot/a lot' about drugs)
when compared with figures from previous years.
HAVE BEEN OFFERED AND TAKEN AT LEAST ONE DRUG, CANNABIS AND OTHER DRUGS 1987-2004
- They suggest that young people are both willing and able to refuse unwelcome offers of drugs. Education in schools often emphasises not just knowledge about drugs but also social skills, such as being able to escape pressure to participate in a particular action.
- In 2004, the highest percentage of 14-15 year old females reported being offered cannabis. Around 2:3 reported taking it compared to being offered it (27% reported taking cannabis and 42% reported being offered it).
- There was a rising trend for those who were offered drugs other than cannabis.
Other trends noticed by young people workers, highlighted on training courses. Of course, this information has to be classified as anecdotal evidence, but may be useful, nevertheless.
- The appearance of an all-night dance culture which has gone hand in hand with the growth in popularity of ecstasy and amphetamines.
- Young people are coming into contact with drugs at a younger age than before.
- A wider range of drugs available, including those not controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act, such as ketamine and amyl nitrite. Poppers seem to be cheaper than they have recently been (quoted price 3 bottles for £10), and being used by young people rather than tradition users such as gay men and others during sex. Magic mushrooms, perhaps because of the recent publicity and even the change in the law, are being more widely used.
- Poly drug use has developed, where users take a number of substances - almost like a bag of 'pick and mix' from the local sweet shop. A drug may be used because the drug of choice is not available, or to excentuate the effects of one drug or to help with the come down from another drug.
- Heroin use is becoming more common: there is probably more heroin available than ever before at the lowest ever price. Although it is felt that young people are more likely to smoke than inject heroin, there is concern that this may well change.
- There is increasing concern expressed about the rise of crack. The drug has found a level in the drug using community where it causes substantial problems for users, families and agencies trying to offer help. A National crack strategy has been published. Download is available via:http://www.drugs.gov.uk/ReportsandPublications/NationalStrategy/1040390696 or from this website here.
- Public concern about drugs continues, particularly around the dangers to young people of drugs. There is beginning to be concern about the impact of parental drug use on children.