Ian Hamilton, a drug abuse and mental health researcher at the University of York, <\/span>told The Guardian<\/span><\/a>: \u201cThis decline of young people in treatment doesn\u2019t make sense. Young people\u2019s class A drug use is up from 6.8% in 2007 to 8.4% in 2018, and the 2016 school survey reported 10% of schoolchildren had used drugs in 2014 but that rose to 15% in 2016.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Darrell Jones, an experienced Drug Expert Witness, told Voice of London: \u201cPHE statistics show numbers in treatment are dropping, there will be a number of factors behind these figures and I have no comment as to why they are shown as such, I would imagine there are a number of findings which could be examined to get a better understanding of such.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThere are numerous drug arenas within the UK and drug use and supply has become so desensitised by social media, TV news outlets and even family and friends it has become the \u201cnorm\u201d and is socially acceptable throughout all levels of the social spectrum,\u201d he added. \u201cThe availability of commonly perceived to be recreational drugs (MDMA, benzos, cannabis, cocaine and others) is as close as the type of a text and can be delivered within minutes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Even if cannabis is one of the most used substances among young people, ecstasy is proving to be a growing problem. The number of individuals entering treatment for ecstasy addiction is nearly double compared to 2014.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Photo: Courtesy of Grav via Unsplash<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Samantha, 19, told Voice of London: \u201cI don\u2019t understand why people are using drugs, even recreationally. If you have mental health issues, go take a walk in a park, drink a coffee with your friends or go to the psychologist. There are many ways to cope with your inner issues, and using drugs doesn\u2019t have to be one of them.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThere are numerous factors which influence and encourage the young to try something, for example, peer pressure, emotional stress, vulnerability, free first pill, reduced prices, the need to be socially accepted, wanting the perfect beach body, they did it so I thought I would and many others which apply to the social setting teenagers are brought up within and build relationships around,\u201d Darrell Jones told Voice of London. \u201cGone are the days when people were frowned upon for trying drugs, you are now more likely frowned upon if you don\u2019t.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Photo: Courtesy of Pixabay via Pexels<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A third of the people receiving treatment have been referred by schools. However, the <\/span>Youth Justice System<\/span><\/a> is also a helpful public body: one in five addicts in therapy come through this route. Besides the NHS, there are charities such as <\/span>Mentor<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>The Salvation Army<\/span><\/a>, which deal with drug issues, as well as private rehabs.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI have a bunch of friends who are using class A drugs recreationally. Maybe this is why many British teenagers don\u2019t seek treatment. I believe that if you use drugs once in a while, you don\u2019t necessarily need treatment, as it can\u2019t be considered drug abuse,\u201d Irenne, 21, told VoL. <\/span><\/p>\n Voice of London contacted <\/span>Addaction<\/span><\/a>, a British mental health, drug and alcohol charity for an in-depth explanation. A spokesperson from the organisation said: \u201cThe stats that were released aren\u2019t about drug use they\u2019re about number of people in treatment. They came earlier in the year and they showed that drug use among people is picking up. The stats around young people specifically that came this year show who actually ends up in treatment for their drug issue.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n If you or someone you know have been suffering from substance abuse or addiction and need guidance, a few helplines can be found below.<\/span><\/p>\n Frank<\/b><\/a> offers a live <\/span>chat facility on their website<\/b><\/a>, <\/b>email support<\/b><\/a>, an SMS number \u2013 82111 and a 24-hour telephone helpline \u2013 0300 123 6600.<\/span><\/p>\n QUIT<\/b><\/a> gives advice and support to give up cigarette smoking. Telephone 0800 002200. Email advice <\/span>stopsmoking@quit.org.uk<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n Families Anonymous<\/b><\/a> provide help for families of drug users. Telephone helpline 0845 1200 660.<\/span><\/p>\n Release<\/b><\/a> provides advice and help with legal issues.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/64\/2018\/12\/IMG_3577.jpg\")
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