The number of young people being admitted to hospital because of illegal drug-taking has soared over the past decade.
There was a 41% rise in the number of under-16s admitted to hospital with drug poisoning, from 596 admissions to 839.
And the proportion of 16 to 24-year-olds admitting cocaine use in the previous year rose to more than 6% for the first time, according to figures from the NHS Information Centre.
The rise in the number of young people admitted to hospital for drug-related mental or behavioural disorders is shocking. 
While the proportion who admitted using cocaine at any stage in their lives rose over 11% for the first time, cannabis use fell to less than 21%.
Among all age groups, the total number of hospital admissions primarily connected with a drug-related mental health and behavioural disorder fell slightly over the period – from 7,584 to 6,743.
But the number of admissions where the secondary diagnosis was related to drug use pushed the overall figures up.
In another worrying sign, the report also showed that men accounted for 79% of the 1,573 deaths from illicit drug use in England and Wales in 2006.
“(We are) concerned that more than twice as many young men were admitted as young women, which suggests men may be more likely to self-medicate with illicit drugs to manage their emotional distress,” said Marjorie Wallace of mental health charity Sane.
“Many of these admissions may be related to other, pre-existing mental health problems, such as depression or feelings of alienation, for which we need much earlier intervention and support when families and others express their concerns.”
NHS Information Centre CEO, Tim Straughan, said: “This bulletin paints a picture of wide discrepancy between the number of men who take, are treated, or even die from drug use compared to the number of women.
“The fact more than 1,500 people died due to drug use in 2006 is extremely saddening in itself, but the fact so many of these deaths are male raises many questions about gender and drug misuse.”
Source: Sky news Aug. 15th 2008