Child drug treatment services in England have seen a significant spike this year. Between April 2024 and March 2025, 16,212 children aged 17 and under entered treatment. This marks a 13% increase from the previous year’s figure of 14,352. The numbers remain 34% below the 2008 peak of 24,494, but the upward trend signals growing challenges ahead.

Cannabis Dominates Children’s Substance Misuse Treatment

Cannabis continues to be the primary substance driving young people into treatment services. It affects 86% of all children receiving help. However, the landscape of substance misuse amongst young people is shifting in alarming ways.

Ketamine use has emerged as a serious concern. Some 1,465 children (9%) now report problems with the drug. This represents a substantial jump from just 512 cases (5%) in 2021. For the first time, ketamine has overtaken ecstasy as a problematic substance amongst children.

Problems with alcohol use affected roughly two in five youngsters (38%). Meanwhile, 8% struggled with ecstasy and 6% with powder cocaine. Nitrous oxide misuse also demands attention. Cases have climbed from 329 children in 2021 to 919 this year.

Mental Health Needs In Child Drug Treatment

Nearly half of children entering child drug treatment in 2024 said they needed mental health support. The figure stands at 48%. This represents a marked increase from 32% in 2018, though it’s slightly down from last year.

The gender divide is particularly stark. Amongst girls, 62% reported needing mental health treatment. Only 39% of boys said the same. Encouragingly, 73% of those reporting mental health needs received some form of support. Most got help through community mental health teams.

Vulnerabilities Amongst Young People In Treatment

Early substance use affects 82% of children beginning treatment. We define this as starting before age 15. It’s the most common vulnerability. Girls reported this at higher rates than boys, 85% versus 80%.

The statistics paint a troubling picture. More than half (53%) were using multiple substances. This pattern was slightly more common amongst girls. Self-harming behaviour was reported by 48% of girls. Only 16% of boys reported the same. Sexual exploitation affected 9% of girls and just 1% of boys.

Boys faced different challenges. Criminal exploitation affected 10% of boys versus 5% of girls. Boys were more likely to be disengaged from education, employment or training.

How Children Access Substance Misuse Treatment

Schools and colleges have become the primary gateway into treatment. Education services accounted for 33% of referrals. That’s 3,921 children in total. Social care followed as the second most common route at 23%. Youth justice services were responsible for 16% of entries into programmes.

Treatment Success Rates Remain High

The exit data provides genuine reason for optimism. Of the 10,830 children who left treatment during the year, 85% successfully completed their programmes. This matched last year’s record proportion. Only 11% dropped out before completing treatment. The figure stayed the same as the previous year.

Children who stuck with their programmes showed measurable improvements in wellbeing. Life satisfaction scores rose from an average of 6.1 at the start to 7.2 at exit. Anxiety levels dropped from 3.7 to 2.7.

Changing Demographics In Child Drug Treatment

The age profile is shifting younger. For the second year running, 14 to 15 year olds represented the largest group in child drug treatment. They’ve overtaken 16 to 17 year olds who historically dominated the statistics. The median age remained steady at nearly 16 years old.

Just over three in five children in treatment were boys (61%). Girls tended to report more complex vulnerability patterns, though. Younger children aged 13 and under made up 11% of all cases. That’s 1,832 children. The figure has remained relatively low but stable.

Looking At Long Term Patterns

The past two decades have seen dramatic fluctuations. From 17,105 children in 2005, numbers peaked at 24,494 in 2008 before falling steadily. The COVID pandemic year of 2020 saw a particularly sharp drop to just 11,013 children. That was the lowest on record.

Recovery has been gradual but consistent over the past four years. The proportion seeking help for cannabis has held steady between 85% and 90% since 2013. Alcohol problems have declined from a 2008 peak of 68% to today’s 38%.

Children’s Substance Misuse Treatment Approaches

Nearly all children received psychosocial interventions. These include talking therapies and counselling designed to encourage behaviour change. Three quarters (76%) received structured harm reduction support. This helps manage risky behaviours like polydrug use.

Pharmacological interventions were used sparingly in child drug treatment. Medication prescribed by clinicians was given to fewer than 1% of children. Almost all interventions took place in community settings (99%). Only small numbers received residential rehabilitation or inpatient care.

The data shows both progress and persistent challenges in child drug treatment. Treatment completion rates have never been better. Yet the surge in ketamine and nitrous oxide cases suggests new threats are emerging. Early intervention remains crucial for protecting vulnerable young people.

Source: dbrecoveryresources