The figures from the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA) show that the overall number of young people using services dropped to 20,688 in 2011/12, from a peak of 24,053 in 2008/9.
In total, 92 per cent of the under-18s who received support from substance misuse services had problems with cannabis or alcohol.
The numbers using services because of issues with alcohol dropped from 7,054 last year to 5,884 this year. But the number of cases related to cannabis rose from 12,784 in 2010/11 to 13,200.
According to the NTA, evidence suggests that young people’s cannabis use is declining overall, but the rise in those accessing services could be down to a combination of stronger strains of the drug causing more harm and professionals being more responsive to the problems it can cause for under-18s.
Meanwhile the number of young people requiring support for problems with Class A drugs including heroin, cocaine or ecstasy fell to 631 in 2011/12, from 770 in 2010/11 and a peak of 1,979 in 2006/07.
Rosanna O’Connor, director of delivery at the NTA, said that although any substance misuse among young people is cause for concern, the figures indicate that more young people are turning away from the “most problematic drugs”.
“The numbers needing specialist interventions remain low and evidence shows that fewer young people are using drugs,” she said.
“However the advent of new substances and risks of ongoing cannabis and alcohol use in particular present a significant challenge. ?
“The positive news is that services are well placed to meet a range of problems, and that for those young people who do need help, it’s readily available and effective.”
O’Connor added that while the number of young people requiring treatment has dropped, any cuts to specialist support risk reversing the decline.
“In the current climate of increased pressure on local authority funding, these figures give a clear message that any disinvestment in young people’s drug and alcohol programmes will be detrimental,” she said.
“All young people’s services need to continue to work together, to give vulnerable young people the best possible chance of overcoming problems before they become entrenched.”
