The use of drugs in young people has shot up by 50% since the end of Covid-19 restrictions, new data has shown. Charity The Mix has published new research showing that a third of people it surveyed, which was 2,000 people aged 16-25, had used an illegal drug in the past year.This is equivalent to an estimated 2.6 million people across the UK, marking a 50% rise compared to the 22% recorded in 2021.The study also found that some 11% of young people had used a Class A drug within the previous year when asked in 2021, but this had increased to 17% – or equivalent to 1.3 million people – in the latest survey.The frequency of drug use has also increased from 16% once a week in 2021 to 23% in 2022.The Mix’s research suggests more young people are developing addictions, with those taking substances as a habit nearly trebling from 5% in 2021 to 14% in 2022.The charity’s deputy chief executive Zoe Bailie said: "The spike we have seen in the number of young people facing challenges with substance use in the past year is extremely worrying and we believe it’s also preventable."We urgently need to break the stigma attached to substance use to ensure no young person is afraid to reach out for help due to concerns about how they will be judged."We also need to do more to highlight the support that is available, ensuring that it’s accessible before a young person becomes dependent on drugs as a way to cope with life’s problems."This new research comes after it was revealed that drug-related deaths in Scotland saw a small decrease for 2021.
However, according to National Records of Scotland, it is still the second highest annual total on record with 1,330 people having lost their lives to drug misuse in Scotland last year.
Read more on dailyrecord.co.uk
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