CHILD DRUG USE 'UNDERESTIMATED'

About 6% of 11-year-olds in England have taken illegal drugs at least once
during the past year, according to figures from the Department of Health
yesterday showing consumption by children throughout early years at
secondary school to be higher than was previously realised.

It said the proportion admitting using drugs increased with age, rising to
9% at 12, 19% at 13, 27% at 14, and 39% at 15.

The figures in an official statistical bulletin were based on a
confidential survey of 285 schools by the National Centre for Social
Research and National Foundation for Educational Research.

Preliminary results in March appeared to show a sharp increase in drug
taking at every age - doubling among 11-year-olds and rising from 29% to
39% at 15. But the department warned that changes in the way questions were
asked might have led to more honest reporting of pupils' habits.

Drugs most commonly used by schoolchildren were cannabis, taken at least
once in the past year by 13% of 11- to 15-year-olds, and glue/solvents,
misused by 7%. Another 6% said they took stimulants such as ecstasy,
cocaine, or poppers, 2% took psychedelics such as LSD or magic mushrooms,
and 1% took heroin.

The department said the government's key drugs target was to reduce the
proportion of people under 25 reporting use of class A drugs by 25% by 2005
and by 50% by 2008.

The bulletin included Home Office figures showing 29% of 16- to
24-year-olds in England and Wales in 2000 said they had used drugs in the
previous 12 months and 18% in the last month.

The Home Office said 26% used cannabis, 6% took amphetamines, and 5% took
ecstasy in 2000. Another 5% used cocaine, 4% took poppers, 1% heroin, and
1% crack cocaine in the past 12 months.

The only drug to show a significant increase in misuse between 1994 and
2000 was cocaine, with the proportion taking it rising from 1% to 5%.

Results for the 16- to 24-year-olds could not be compared with those for
the younger age group due to different sampling methods.