§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the President of the Council how many and what percentage of those aged under 25 years she estimates have used(a) cannabis, (b) ecstasy, (c) heroin and (d) cocaine. [41611]
§ Mrs. Ann TaylorThe British Crime Survey gives estimates of drug use among people aged 16 to 24 living in private households in England and Wales. The most recent estimates are from the 1996 survey, when 39 per cent. of people in this age group said they had used cannabis at some time. 11 per cent. had used ecstasy; 1 per cent. had used heroin; and 4 per cent. had used cocaine.
The estimates of heroin, cocaine and ecstasy use should be treated with great caution, partly because they are subject to very large sampling error, and partly because a household survey such as the BCS is likely to under-represent current users.
The table gives the range, together with the mid-point estimate. The estimates for cannabis use are fairly precise, while those for the other drugs are not.
Number of 16 to 24 year olds using named drugs (95 per cent. confidence intervals) Thousand Named drugs Lower estimate Higher estimate Mid-point Cannabis: ever used 2,100 2,400 2,300 Ecstasy: ever used 540 770 650 Cocaine: ever used 170 320 240 Heroin: ever used 30 110 60 Source:
1996 BCS. Weighted data.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the President of the Council what estimate she has made of the average age of those in the United Kingdom first using(a) cannabis, (b) ecstacy, (c) heroin and (d) cocaine. [41610]
§ Mrs. Ann TaylorThis information is not currently available. However, one of the performance indicators set out in the new Government drugs strategy, "Tackling Drugs to Build a Better Britain" is
to delay age of first use of illegal drugs".During this year we will commission research to determine baseline indicators of current age of first use of illegal drugs. The UK Anti-Drugs Coordinator's first Annual Report and Plan of Action, to be published in March, will then set out the targets towards which we will be working.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the President of the Council what assessment she has made of the impact on ecstasy use of the Sorted campaign. [41613]
§ Mrs. Ann TaylorThe 'Sorted' anti-drugs campaign was not a Government campaign and has not to our knowledge been evaluated.