Fewer young teens using cannabis

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.

http://www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/10/56/76/04105676.pdf