§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people(a) under and (b) over 16 years were addicted to aerosols in each of the last five years. [148836]
§ Ms Stuart[holding answer 6 February 2001]: The information requested is not available in the form requested. However, information about the use of drugs (including volatile substances) by young people in 1998 and 1999 is included in the Statistical Bulletin "Statistics on young people and drug misuse: England, 1998". This is available in the Library. Relevant information from this is shown in the table.
Proportion of young people aged 11–15 years who had used glue/solvents and gas in the last year, England Per cent. Drug 1998 1999 Glue or Solvents 1 2 Gas (Butane, lighter refills) — 2 572W
Proportion of young people aged 16–24 years who had used glue etc in the last year, England and Wales Per cent. Drug 1998 Glue etc 1 Information on people presenting to drug misuse services for the first time, or for the first time for six months or more is published in the statistical bulletins "Statistics from the Regional Drug Misuse Databases for six months ending …". This is available in the Library. Relevant information from this is shown is in the table.
Number of users presenting for t with solvents as their main dn ending 1 October 1996 to reatment at dru g of misuse 31 March 20 rug misuse during the periods 2000—Englad All ages Under 20 Over 20 October 1996 to March 1997 158 95 63 April 1997 to September 1997 148 95 53 October 1997 to March 1998 167 116 51 April 1998 to September 1998 157 104 53 October 1998 to March 1999 139 91 48 April 1999 to September 1999 165 116 49 October 1999 to March 2000 176 113 63