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Class A Drugs

Volume 410: debated on Friday 19 September 2003

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To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of people under the age of 25 years reported the use of Class A drugs in each of the last six years. [130482]

The British Crime Survey estimates last year use of Class A drugs by 16 to 24-year-olds since 1996 as being:

Percentage
19969
19989
200010
2001–029

Note:

From 2001–02, the BCS reporting period moved to financial years

However, none of these changes are statistically significant. Class A drug use has therefore been stable between 1996 and 2001–02. Data for 2002–03 will be published later in the year.

The 'Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in England in 2002' survey estimates last year Class A drug use among 11 to 15-year-olds since 1998 as being:

Percentage

19983
19992
20004
20014
20024

A revised method for measuring the prevalence of drug use was introduced in 2001. Therefore, estimates used in 2001 and 2002 are not strictly comparable with results from previous sweeps.