Young people’s use of illicit drugs, drug dependence, and depression and anxiety in 2014 and 2024
Abstract
Background: Drug use is a known risk factor for poor mental health, but UK evidence on trends in young people largely draws on the Crime Survey for England and Wales which may underestimate prevalence and does not cover signs of dependence.
Methods: Repeated cross-sectional mental health surveys conducted in-home with adults (16+) in England in 2014 and 2024. Questionnaire covered drug use (including non-prescribed use of opioid medications buprenorphine, fentanyl, morphine, oxycodone, tramadol), dependence signs (daily use, sense of need, inability to abstain, increased tolerance, withdrawal), and depression and anxiety disorders (assessed using the Clinical Interview Schedule-Revised). Weighted analyses adjusted for complex survey design and non-response.
Results: In 2024, 18.1% of 16-to-24-year-olds reported using an illicit drug in the past year, higher than the 16.5% reported on the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW). 2.1% of young people reported having used opioid medications that had not been prescribed to them in their life. Cannabis was the most reported drug. While prevalence of past-year use fell between 2014 (20.0%) and 2024 (17.9%), the proportion with signs of cannabis dependence did not significantly change and observed rates suggest may have risen: from 6.5% (95% confidence interval: 4.6, 9.2) of 16-to-24-year-olds in 2014 to 8.3% (5.3,13.1) in 2024. There were strong associations between drug dependence and meeting criteria for depression or an anxiety disorder.
Conclusions: Drug use may be more common in the UK than official figures relying on crime surveys suggest; young people may be more willing to disclose in a health survey. Use of opioid medications prescribed to another person is not uncommon and warrants monitoring in young people. Prevalence of cannabis dependence may be rising and this is not explained by increases in the proportion using cannabis, indicating changing potency and other factors relevant for prevention strategies.
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BibTeX
@article{mcmanus2026young,
title = {{Young people’s use of illicit drugs, drug dependence, and depression and anxiety in 2014 and 2024}},
author = {S McManus and S Morris and E Roberts and J Strang and S Tromans and Z Morgan and T Brugha},
journal = {The European Journal of Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.706},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.706},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Young people’s use of illicit drugs, drug dependence, and depression and anxiety in 2014 and 2024
AU - S McManus
AU - S Morris
AU - E Roberts
AU - J Strang
AU - S Tromans
AU - Z Morgan
AU - T Brugha
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - The European Journal of Public Health
DO - 10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.706
UR - https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.706
AB - Background: Drug use is a known risk factor for poor mental health, but UK evidence on trends in young people largely draws on the Crime Survey for England and Wales which may underestimate prevalence and does not cover signs of dependence. Methods: Repeated cross-sectional mental health surveys conducted in-home with adults (16+) in England in 2014 and 2024. Questionnaire covered drug use (including non-prescribed use of opioid medications buprenorphine, fentanyl, morphine, oxycodone, tramadol), dependence signs (daily use, sense of need, inability to abstain, increased tolerance, withdrawal), and depression and anxiety disorders (assessed using the Clinical Interview Schedule-Revised). Weighted analyses adjusted for complex survey design and non-response. Results: In 2024, 18.1% of 16-to-24-year-olds reported using an illicit drug in the past year, higher than the 16.5% reported on the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW). 2.1% of young people reported having used opioid medications that had not been prescribed to them in their life. Cannabis was the most reported drug. While prevalence of past-year use fell between 2014 (20.0%) and 2024 (17.9%), the proportion with signs of cannabis dependence did not significantly change and observed rates suggest may have risen: from 6.5% (95% confidence interval: 4.6, 9.2) of 16-to-24-year-olds in 2014 to 8.3% (5.3,13.1) in 2024. There were strong associations between drug dependence and meeting criteria for depression or an anxiety disorder. Conclusions: Drug use may be more common in the UK than official figures relying on crime surveys suggest; young people may be more willing to disclose in a health survey. Use of opioid medications prescribed to another person is not uncommon and warrants monitoring in young people. Prevalence of cannabis dependence may be rising and this is not explained by increases in the proportion using cannabis, indicating changing potency and other factors relevant for prevention strategies.
SN - 1101-1262
SN - 1464-360X
ER -