Children in Care: Drugs
(asked on 17th December 2014) - View Source
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what information her Department holds on children in residential care who have been identified as addicted to narcotics.
The Department for Education does not hold information on the number of children in residential care addicted to narcotics or alcohol but we do hold data on substance misuse concerning drugs and alcohol (but not tobacco). 9.7% of children looked after in a residential placement at 31 March, who had been looked after for at least 12 months were recorded as having a substance misuse problem.
Substance misuse is defined as ‘intoxication by (or regular excessive consumption or and/or dependence on) psychoactive substances, leading to social, psychological, physical or legal problems’. It includes problematic use of both legal and illegal drugs (including alcohol when used in combination with other substances).
Information on the number of looked after children identified as having a substance misuse problem is published in Table 5 of the ‘Outcomes for children looked after by local authorities’ Statistical First Release: www.gov.uk/government/statistics/outcomes-for-children-looked-after-by-local-authorities
Substance misuse by children who have been looked after continuously for at least 12 months1 in residential placements at 31 March2,3
Coverage: England, 2014
Children looked after by age and gender5 |
Looked after for at least 12 months1 |
Number identified as having a substance misuse problem4 |
Percentage identified as having a substance misuse problem4 |
Boys | |||
9 years and under | 90 | 0 | 0.0 |
10 to 12 years | 370 | x | x |
13 to 15 years | 1,250 | 120 | 9.2 |
16 years and over | 1,220 | 160 | 13.0 |
Total | 2,930 | 280 | 9.5 |
Girls | |||
9 years and under | 40 | 0 | 0.0 |
10 to 12 years | 130 | 0 | 0.0 |
13 to 15 years | 670 | 80 | 9.1 |
16 years and over | 710 | 100 | 13.6 |
Total | 1,550 | 160 | 10.2 |
All | |||
9 years and under | 120 | 0 | 0.0 |
10 to 12 years | 510 | x | x |
13 to 15 years | 1,920 | 180 | 9.2 |
16 years and over | 1,920 | 250 | 13.2 |
Total | 4,470 | 440 | 9.7 |
Source: SSDA903
1. Information on substance misuse is collected for children looked after continuously for at least 12 months as at 31 March excluding those children in respite care.
2. Residential settings include secure units, and children's homes and hostels subject to regulations.
3. Includes children in care for at least 12 months and placed in a residential setting at 31 March 2014. However, they may have been in different placements during the year.
4. The term ‘drug’ is used to refer to any psychotropic substance, including illegal drugs, illicit use of prescription drugs and volatile substances. Young people’s drug taking is often inextricably linked with the consumption of alcohol. Therefore the term ‘substance’ refers to both drugs and alcohol but not tobacco. Substance misuse is defined as ‘intoxication by (or regular excessive consumption or and/or dependence on) psychoactive substances, leading to social, psychological, physical or legal problems’. It includes problematic use of both legal and illegal drugs (including alcohol when used in combination with other substances).
5. Age as at 31 March.
Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.
x = number less than or equal to 5 or percentage where the numerator is less than or equal to 5 or the denominator is less than or equal to 10.