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.
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