New and more harmful strains of cannabis could be responsible for the
growing number of teenagers seeking specialist help after using the drug
despite overall use falling, experts have claimed.
The total number of young people accessing substance misuse services dropped for the third year running Photo: ALAMY
The number of under-18s receiving treatment for Class A drugs including
heroin, cocaine and ecstasy has fallen by two thirds over the past five years
but cases involving cannabis are on the rise. New figures released by the
National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA) show that just 631 young
people were treated for Class A drugs last year, compared with 1,979 five years
earlier. In contrast, those seeking help for cannabis rose three per cent to
13,200 last year, adding up to an increase of 18 per cent since 2006/07 when
there were 10,824 cases.
Overall use of cannabis among young people is thought to be declining,
but leading experts suggested more potent and harmful strains of the drug could
partially explain why more are seeking help.
The NTA said in a report published yesterday: "As evidence suggests
that overall young people’s cannabis use is declining, the rise in numbers
seeing specialist services could be down to a combination of stronger strains
of the drug causing more harm, greater awareness of the issues surrounding
cannabis, and specialist services being more alert and responsive to the
problems the drug can cause for under-18s."
The total number of young people accessing substance misuse services
dropped for the third year running, from 24,053 in 2008/09 to 20,688 last year.
Cannabis or alcohol use accounted for ninety per cent of cases. The proportion
of under-18s who successfully complete their drug treatment has risen
dramatically from 50 per cent to 77 per cent in the space of five years, the
report said.
Rosanna O'Connor, the NTA's director of delivery, said: "The
numbers needing specialist interventions remain low and evidence shows that
fewer young people are using drugs. "However, the advent of new substances
and risks of ongoing cannabis and alcohol use in particular present a
significant challenge."
Martin Barnes, Chief Executive of the DrugScope charity added:
"Although the reduction in numbers in treatment is consistent with an
overall decline in drug use, the picture is complex when it comes to young
people’s needs and the type of problems they are coming to services with. This
includes problems associated with cannabis use."
Source: Telegraph UK
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