Over half a million have taken cocaine and ecstasy in the last year but cannabis use has declined

Class A illicit drug use is increasing among 16- to 24-year-olds, with more than half a million young people taking cocaine and ecstasy in the last year, according to Home Office figures published today.

But the latest findings from the British Crime Survey confirm that the longterm gradual decline in cannabis use among young people has continued.

They also show that the profile of the most likely frequent illicit drug user is white, young, male, single, a regular clubber and likely to be seen in the pub. The Home Office researchers say that marital status is the strongest factor associated with predicting illicit drug use, that is, if a man gets married he is more likely to give up drugs.

Perhaps true to stereotype, the BCS identifies students as most likely to use hallucinogens such as LSD and magic mushrooms.

The annual findings on drugs use from the survey show that around 37% of all 16- to 59-year-olds, have used illicit drugs at some point during their lives, with 10% saying they have used them in the last year and 1.8% having used them in the last month.

Among adults the overall level of illicit drug use remained stable but there was an increase in use of class A drugs, particularly cocaine. Increases were seen in the use of cocaine powder, ecstasy, tranquillisers, anabolic steroids and ketamine. An estimated 229,000 people used heroin last year.

Cannabis use, which accounts for 79% of illicit drug use, remained stable at around 8% of all adults having smoked a joint in the last year.

A similar picture exists for young people aged 16 to 24. The increase in the use of class A drugs was more marked, rising from 6.9% to 8.1% of the age group. But cannabis use – which accounts for 84% of drug use by young people – remained stable, consolidating the long-term gradual decline. The most significant other drugs were cocaine, amyl nitrate (used by 4.4%) and ecstasy (also used by 4.4%).

Home Office minister Alan Campbell said it was encouraging that overall drug use remained historically low and that use of the most harmful drugs was stable. “However, we are not complacent,” he said. “We are taking comprehensive action to tackle cocaine use, from increased enforcement to reduce the supply, along with effective treatment, education and early intervention for those most at risk.”

The minister said that cocaine purity had been recorded at an all time low in police seizures.

“When people think they are taking cocaine, in some instances the actual purity is as low as 4%.

“Police are increasingly seeing drugs cut with a hazardous cocktail of chemicals which include phenacetin, a known carcinogen. Cocaine can cause serious damage to health and these chemicals can, in themselves, cause significant harm to the user.”

Martin Barnes, chief executive of DrugScope, said the figures showed a marked and worrying increase in the use of cocaine powder, in the adult population as a whole and among those aged 16 to 24.

“While this is not necessarily a surprise given the drug’s decrease in price and increase in availability over recent years, it is of significant concern, particularly the rise in use among younger people. Cocaine use is now at its highest level among adults since 1996– one in eight 16- to 24-year-olds now report having used the drug.”