Cannabis use by young people has fallen, despite the drug being reclassified from Class B to Class C.
New figures from the National Centre for Social Research show the proportion of 11-15 year olds using cannabis fell from 13 per cent in 2001, 2002, and 2003 to 11 per cent in 2004.
One in ten had taken some illegal drug in the last month, and one per cent were using drugs most days, most commonly cannabis. 11 and 12 year olds were four times more likely to have sniffed solvents or glue than taken cannabis.
There was also a small fall in the proportion who had taken an alcoholic drink in the previous week – from 25 to 23 per cent But the quantity they drank had not changed. For the first time girls were as likely as boys to have had a drink, and girls were drinking similar quantities of alcohol to boys.
Nine per cent of secondary school aged pupils are regular smokers, the same rate as in 1999, and down from 13 per cent in 1996.
Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in England 2004.
