data graphic of the day KIDS ON DRUGS
CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 12 ARE BEING TREATED FOR DRUG AND ALCOHOL MISUSE
MORE than 16,000 children across England were treated for drug and alcohol abuse last year - and 68 were under the age of 12.
There were 10,767 boys and 5,669 girls treated by the NHS for substance addictions in 2016/17.
Cannabis was overwhelmingly the drug that most children were abusing, accounting for 12,712 cases.
That is a total of 16,436 children, or 45 every day.
Alcohol, which was abused by 2,465
The highest proportion of children starting treatment were aged between 15-16 at the time. They accounted for 4,346 cases.
There were a further 284 kids aged between 12 and 13, and 990 between 13 and 14.
However, while the number of children being treated for drug abuse might sound high, it’s actually one of the lowest rates recorded.
In 2005/6 there were 17,001 children receiving treatment for substance abuse.
This figure rose and peaked in 2008/9 with a staggering 24,053 children.
Since then, the number has been falling yearly.
But while the general number of children receiving treatment is children, was a distant second. Some 340 kids were treated for ecstasy - also known as MDMA addictions. This is the highest number since 2007/8. There were 254 children receiving help for cocaine abuse, followed by 213 who were addicted to new psychoactive substances including the recently-criminalised spice. Both heroin and amphetamines - also known as speed - saw 71 children treated for addiction to these drugs. Meanwhile, crack was being abused by 16 children needing treatment. decreasing, treatment rates for the youngest children are increasing.
The 68 kids under the age of 12 being treated for substance misuse was the highest figure in four years.
And the 284 children aged between 12 and 13 who were being treated rose from 211 in 2015/6.
Those aged between 13 and 14 saw 990 children treated for substance misuse - up from 909 the year previously.
That being said, the rates of children completing treatments have improved.
In 2005/6, there were 4,105 drugabusing children who actually completed their treatment - 48% of the number exiting the programme. Most recent figures show this has more than doubled to 8,929 kids completing treatment in 2015/16, or 80% of the 11,224 who stopped receiving treatment that year. A Public Health England spokesperson said: “It’s important to note that completing specialist interventions for drug and alcohol use is often not the end of their journey. Many vulnerable young people will need continued support such as targeted youth provision, education, employment and housing support.”