HC Deb 09 February 2004 vol 417 cc1407-9W
Tim Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children aged between 14 and 19 years are known to have experimented with(a) drugs and (b) alcohol in 2003. [152554]

Miss Melanie Johnson

Data are not available in the form requested; however the latest available data are shown in the tables.

Table 1: Whether young people aged 14 and 15 have taken drugs in the last month, last year and ever, by gender—England, 2002
Percentage
14 years 15 years
Boys
Taken in last month 19 25
Taken in last year, including in last month 28 38
Ever taken 37 47
Girls
Taken in last month 15 18
Taken in last year, including in last month 24 33
Ever taken 31 42
All pupils
Taken in last month 17 22
Taken in last year, including in last month 26 36
Ever taken 34 45

Source:

National Centre for Social Research/NFER Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in England in 2002

Table 2: Whether young people aged 16 to 19 have taken drugs in the last month, last year and ever, by gender—England and Wales, 2002–03
Percentage
Males Females All persons
Taken in last month 19 15 17
Taken in last year, including in last month 30 24 27
Ever taken 44 36 40

Source:

Home Office 2002–03 British Crime Survey

Table 3: Whether young people aged 14 and 15 have ever had an alcoholic drink and whether they had drunk alcohol in the last week, by gender—England, 2002
Percentage
14 years 15 years
Boys
Drank in last week 34 49
Ever drank 79 86
Girls
Drank in last week 34 45
Ever drank 81 88
All pupils
Drank in last week 34 47
Ever drank 80 87

Source:

National Centre for Social Research/NFER Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in England in 2002

Table 4: Whether young people aged 16 to 19 ever drink alcohol and whether they had drunk alcohol in the last week, by gender England, 2001
Percentage
Males
Non-drinker 16
Drinks alcohol nowadays 84
Drank in the last week 59
Females
Non-drinker 17
Drinks alcohol nowadays 83
Drank in the last week 57
All persons
Non-drinker 17
Drinks alcohol nowadays 83
Drank in the last week 58

Notes:

1.Respondents are categorised as a 'drinker' if they report ever drinking alcohol nowadays.

2.Figures for non-drinker include those that used to drink alcohol but do not drink nowadays.

Source:

ONS Living in Britain. General Household Survey, 2001