The agency's first report, published today, says that despite public perception of an increase in young addicts, evidence suggests regular drug and alcohol use among young people is in decline. However more young people are being treated for addiction because of the expansion of treatment services.
According to the report 694 under-13s were treated for substance misuse during 2007/8, making up three per cent of the total.
Cannabis and alcohol use accounted for about three-quarters of young people being treated, while few young people used Class A drugs. Heroin and cocaine use accounted for just three per cent of those being treated.
The report states that addiction is rare in young people and that services are doing an "excellent" job. It says young substance abusers are not linked to acquisitive crime in the same way as adult addicts, but are linked to antisocial behaviour, violence and risky sexual behaviour.
Dave Schwartz, young person's lead, drugs and alcohol at Plymouth Children's Trust, said: "It's absolutely vital to recognise that young drug users need different treatment from adults. The evidence shows that most adults need at least 12 weeks in treatment, but that is not the case for all young people - many need shorter treatment periods."
Substance misuse charity DrugScope said the report was welcome as reliable data on young drug users in treatment was scarce. Martin Barnes, chief executive of DrugScope, said: "While we cannot be complacent, a number of independent data sources do suggest that the use of drugs and alcohol among young people is in decline, particularly the use of cannabis."
