The document summarizes key findings from the 2009/10 British Crime Survey on drug use among young adults aged 16 to 24 in the UK. It finds that 8% fewer young adults report ever using drugs compared to 1996, and 7% fewer report drug use in the last month. It estimates that 2.7 million young adults have used illicit drugs at some point, with 1.3 million using in the last year and 772,000 in the last month. Cannabis is reported as the most common first drug, with most users first trying it between ages 15-16.

1. Drug Misuse Declared Findings from the 2009/10 British Crime Survey

3. Proportion of 16 -24 year olds saying they have ever used drugs 8% fewer young adults say they have ever taken a drug than in 1996

4. Young adult’s drug use - ever 2.7 million young adults are estimated to have used an illicit drug at some time in their lives.

5. Proportion of 16 -24 year olds saying they have used drugs in the last year

6. Young adult’s drug use – last year 1.3 million young adults are estimated to have taken an illicit drug in the last year.

7. Proportion of 16 – 24 year olds saying they have used drugs in the last month 7% fewer young adults say they took a drug in the last month than in 1996

8. Young adult’s drug use – last month 772,000 young adults took an illicit drug in the last month

10. Estimated numbers of 16 – 24 year olds who have used an illicit drug, by type

11. Proportion of frequent drug users aged 16 to 24 years 481,000 young adults are estimated to be frequent drug users

12. 16 to 24 year olds reporting use of cannabis or ‘skunk’

13. Use of cannabis in the last year

14. Use of any Class A drug in the last year 'Any Class A drug' comprises powder cocaine, crack cocaine, ecstasy, LSD, magic mushrooms, heroin and methadone plus methamphetamine since 2008/09

15. Use of powder cocaine in the last year

16. Use of ecstasy in the last year

17. Use of hallucinogens in the last year

18. Use of amphetamines in the last year