Teenagers are now more likely to take drugs including legal highs and ‘hippy crack’ than they are to smoke, official figures show.
Almost a quarter of pupils aged 11 to 15 said they had used drugs compared to just 19 per cent who had smoked.
Drugs included legal highs, illegal substances such as cannabis, crack and cocaine as well as nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, which is also known as hippy crack.
One in ten had used drugs in the past month and boys were slightly more likely to have tried them than girls.
The figures also revealed that the percentage of 11- to 15-year-olds taking drugs has risen sharply in the last two years.
Hippy crack – which is also known as laughing gas and is sucked through a balloon – has become increasing popular (stock photo)
In 2014 only 15 per cent admitted to ever taking drugs – although they may not have counted laughing gas or legal highs.
The statistics from NHS Digital come from a survey of 12,051 pupils from 177 schools across England, carried out last year.
Officials said the rise in drug taking ‘needed further investigation’ before they could be sure whether it was a genuine trend.
It may be partly explained by the fact that in previous surveys pupils weren’t directly asked if they had taken legal highs or laughing gas.
Hippy crack – popular with celebs
Prince Harry has been seen inhaling so-called ‘hippy crack’
The figures also showed that in 8 per cent had taken cannabis in the last year, 4 per cent laughing gas or ‘hippy crack’, 2 per cent legal highs and 2 per cent Class A drugs, such as crack or cocaine.
A total of 25 per cent of boys had ever taken any drug compared to 24 per cent of girls.
And 49 per cent of all pupils who had used them had been handed them by a friend while 26 per cent had bought them from a dealer.
Hippy crack – which is sucked through a balloon – has become increasing popular amongst celebrities and even Prince Harry was spotted taking it in 2010.
Other celebrities reportedly filmed using it include England footballer Raheem Sterling, EastEnders actress Lorna Fitzgerald and former Coronation Street star Michelle Keegan.
Drugs are a ‘real problem’
Anastasia De Waal, deputy director of the think-tank Civitas said: ‘These figures are certainly alarming.
‘New pressures around youngsters Internet safety and concern around social media dangers can make us forget that drugs are still a very real problem in this country.
‘These figures starkly reveal the very young age of those affected. Particularly in areas of deprivation – but not exclusively by any means – drugs are blighting young people’s lives as well as fuelling crime.’
Another 44 per cent had ever tried alcohol – the first time this question was asked – including 46 per cent of girls and 43 per cent of boys.
Of these, 11 per cent of girls and 7 per cent of boys had been drunk in the last four weeks.
Some 25 per cent of pupils had ever tried e-cigarettes up from 22 per cent in 2014. This included 2 per cent who classed themselves as weekly users.
Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, chair of the Alcohol Health Alliance UK, said: ‘These findings are very concerning, especially the high numbers of children who report having been drunk recently.
‘It is clear from the data that levels of children’s drinking in the UK remain among the highest in the Western world, and this consumption goes against the advice of the Chief Medical Officer’s, who says that an alcohol-free childhood is the healthiest option, and that children shouldn’t drink any alcohol before age 15.’
STUDENT, 19, FOUND DEAD AFTER TAKING LAUGHING GAS
Miguel Fernandes, 19, was discovered in his student flat in Egham, Surrey, surrounded by nitrous oxide canisters
An astrophysics student was found dead with a plastic bag around his head after taking ‘laughing gas’ a day after his girlfriend dumped him.
Miguel Fernandes, 19, was discovered in his student flat in Egham, Surrey, surrounded by nitrous oxide canisters, on February 18.
Mr Fernandes, who studied at Royal Holloway University, had not spoken to anyone after splitting up with his girlfriend, Arianna Saba, the day before, an inquest in Woking heard.
A statement written by his father Luis, who sat in the hearing along with Mr his mother Karen, was read by coroner Anna Crawford.
Ms Crawford said: ‘He has disclosed that Miguel was a very gifted student and he had won a place at the Royal Holloway University to study astrophysics and at the time of his death was in the second year of study, having started in September 2015.
‘He sets out some background about how Miguel got on with his studies and says, ”Miguel was a happy boy who never had any mental health ailments like depression or anything of that nature”.
‘When at university Miguel kept in contact with his family on a regular basis. He states that they were aware Miguel had been in a relationship whilst being at university.’