The number of 18- to 24-year-olds being treated for heroin addiction alone has fallen by more than half over the past five years. Between April 2010 and March 2011, 3,253 young people were treated for heroin problems, down from 4,203 the previous year and 7,449 in 2005.
In 2005, 3,860 young people were treated for a combination of heroin and crack problems and 1,011 for crack addiction alone. But last year these figures dropped to 2,279 and 576 respectively.
Despite this, the statistics show the proportion of 18- to 24-year-olds being treated for problematic cannabis use is on the up.
While the number of young people smoking cannabis is not thought to have increased, the NTA warned that the rise in the number of young people needing treatment could be down to stronger strains of "skunk" cannabis.
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