Why more adults in England are showing signs of drug dependence as patterns shift

DCM Editorial Summary: This story has been independently rewritten and summarised for DCM readers to highlight key developments relevant to the region. Original reporting by The Conversation, click this post to read the original article.

If you’re interested in how drug use is evolving in England, the latest Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey brings some crucial insights. It shows that both the types of drugs being used and their potency are changing. This survey, which involved interviews with nearly 7,000 adults across England, offers a clearer picture by focusing on mental health and wellbeing instead of crime, encouraging more honest disclosures about drug use.

You’ll notice that drug use among adults, particularly those aged 16 to 24, appears to be more common than previously reported by crime-focused surveys. For example, more young adults admitted to using substances like ketamine and prescription opioids not prescribed to them. This suggests that the real scale of drug use may have been underestimated, especially when it includes substances not tracked by official crime statistics.

One area of concern highlighted is the non-medical use of prescription opioids. You’ve got about 3% of adults saying they’ve used these drugs without a prescription—more than triple the rate for heroin. This trend is most common among 25- to 34-year-olds, cutting across gender lines and indicating that this isn’t just about managing pain, but potentially recreational or other risky use.

Dependency patterns are changing too. You’re seeing young women now showing levels of drug dependence similar to their male counterparts, a shift from previous trends. Cannabis dependence has also climbed, nearly doubling over the past decade. This rise is likely due to stronger cannabis products and more accessible forms like vapes—making it easier to build a habit, even if overall usage hasn’t increased proportionately.

Perhaps most concerning is the lack of treatment access. Just one in five adults who showed signs of drug dependence said they’d ever gotten help. And there’s a significant overlap between drug issues and mental health conditions like anxiety and depression, making recovery even harder. These trends underscore the need for updated, targeted support to match the changing patterns you see in drug use today.