Drug use among young adults at highest levels for a decade as 511,000 admit taking class A substances
Home Office figures have revealed 511,000 16 to 24-year-olds took a class A drug last year, with signs use among 11 to 15-year-olds is also on the rise
SERIOUS drug use among young adults is at its highest levels for a decade — fuelled by cocaine and ketamine.
Campaigners have warned that more action is needed to tackle the sale of drugs online.
Home Office figures show 511,000, or 8.4 per cent, of 16 to 24-year-olds took a class A drug last year.
It is the highest proportion for at least ten years and more than double the rate in society at large.
The Home Office said there were signs use among 11 to 15-year-olds was also on the rise.
Drug charity Addaction insisted it represented a minority.
But its policy manager Steve Moffatt said: “Markets for this group are changing, especially online, and drugs are fairly affordable.”
Figures show three million 16 to 59-year-olds had an illicit drug in the past year.
Cannabis is most common, used by 7.2 per cent.
Ketamine use has doubled from 0.4 per to 0.8 per cent, equal to 141,000 people.
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Its use has also doubled among 16 to 24-year-olds.
Cocaine use is up from 4.1 per cent of young adults in 2011-12 to six per cent last year.
Crime minister Victoria Atkins said: “We are concerned.”