Alarming rise in child drug abuse

The scale of drug-taking among schoolchildren is exposed today.

A new government survey reveals a disturbing rise in substance abuse among children.

The numbers have jumped despite a multi-million-pound campaign to highlight the dangers.

More than a third of 15-year-olds and almost one in 10 children aged 11 admit that they have taken drugs in the last year. The survey also exposes a worrying shift in attitudes to taking drugs among young people, with children now more likely to view the habit as acceptable.

The findings will disappoint health and education chiefs and raise new questions about whether policies to tackle drug abuse are working. They are also an embarrassment to Prime Minister Tony Blair, coming only a day after he launched a new "war on drugs".

The official survey, on attitudes to drinking, smoking and drug use among young people, shows that 21 per cent of 11- to 15-year-olds took drugs at some point between 2002 and last year, one per cent more than the previous year. The numberwho admitted ever taking drugs leapt from 27 per cent in 2002 to 30 per cent last year.

A total of four per cent of 11-yearolds admitted taking drugs within the last month, while eight per cent admitted taking them within the last year. Almost 40 per cent of 15-year-olds said they had taken drugs within the last 12 months.

The drug of choice among young people appears to be cannabis, with

13 per cent of 11-15 year olds admitting they had taken it in the last year. Aerosol abuse and glue sniffing also remain widespread.

The survey suggests dealers are increasingly targeting children. Forty-two per cent of 11-15-year olds said they had been offered drugs at some point - two per cent more than in 2002.

The proportion who had been offered drugs and "never refused" soared from three per cent in 1999 to 10 per cent last year. While 71 per cent of young people used to think "those who take drugs are stupid," only 58 per cent now agree with this statement.

A third of pupils said they thought it would be "easy" to obtain drugs. The number who can recall having specific lessons on drugs has almost doubled since 1998. But the findings suggest many are simply ignoring the messages they are given during such lessons.

However, the Government appears to be hitting a target to reduce smoking among the 11-15 age group from 13 per cent in 1997, to nine per cent by next year.

Other health statistics published today show the number of NHS hospital operations being cancelled at the last minute has risen compared with the same time last year.

But the total number of operations being carried out now is far higher than before.