NCJ Number
234103
Date Published
January 2011
Length
81 pages
Annotation
This annual statistical report presents a range of information on drug misuse among both adults and children in England and Wales for 2010.
Abstract
The first chapter reports on the prevalence of drug misuse among adults and the types of drugs most commonly used. In 2009/10, 8.6 percent of adults had used one or more illicit drugs within the last year, compared with 10.1 percent in 2008/09. Consist with previous findings, cannabis is the drug type most likely to be used by adults. Links between drug use and other sociodemographic and lifestyle factors are also explored. A separate section of the chapter addresses drug misuse among young adults (ages 16-24). In 2009/10, 20 percent of young adults had used one or more illicit drugs in the last year, a decrease from 2008/09, which involved 22.6 percent. Cannabis remained the drug most likely to be used by young adults. The second chapter focuses on drug misuse among children (mostly ages 11-15). There has been an overall decrease in drug use reported by 11-15 year-olds since 2001. The prevalence of having ever use drugs declined from 29 percent in 2001 to 22 percent in 2009. Reported drug use was more common among older students. The chapter also examines the association between drug use and socio-demographic factors, along with information on behaviors, knowledge, and attitudes toward drug use. The third chapter presents a range of information on the health risks of drug misuse, including hospital admissions, treatment, drugs harm index, and drug-related deaths. Chapter references, extensive tables, and appended key sources, government plans and targets, explanation of logistic regression, and a drugs glossary