The Department of Health says that both drug-related deaths and incidents of drug-fuelled crime are down, but despite this, the number of under-16s admitted to hospital as a result of taking illegal drugs has risen dramatically over the past decade.

According to the NHS Information Centre, between 1996-97 and 2006-07 there was a 41 per cent jump in the number of children under 16 admitted to hospital with drug poisoning – from 596 to 839. Its figures also reveal that the number of admissions for those with mental and behavioural problems linked to drugs rose 48 per cent over the same period, from 272 to 402.

Although the numbers involved aren't huge the upward trend is alarming, says Christina Ball, operations director at support charity Drugsline.

"It's very worrying and I think it's sad that young people are being exposed to drugs and suffering in this way. What the stats don't mention is the number of drugs admissions through accidents or violence."

She believes that drugs education in schools is failing. "I think young people in schools are not getting enough drugs education, because we really need to be highlighting the serious consequences of using them," she says.

"Most of the money on drugs education is targeted towards vulnerable children who either come from families with problems, or who have been excluded from school.

"But nowadays, every child is vulnerable, and drugs education should be available to everyone, and I'm not talking about a one-off lesson by a teacher. When we go into schools we have people who are recovering addicts or have experience working on the front line, because we have to be honest with young people."

She believes, too, that children are being exposed to drugs at an earlier age. "It doesn't matter what kind of school you go to, children are exposed to drugs. They see it on the streets and they see people smoking cannabis at the bus stop. It's definitely become more noticeable."

A few years ago, drugs problems were confined largely to big cities, but they have since spread to market towns and villages, places once immune.

Elliot Elam, of drug treatment charity Addaction, says that different types of drugs have become more widely available. "There's more choice of drugs, rather than more people using drugs. You used to just find them in the big cities, but now you find them everywhere," he says.

"Ten years ago, drugs like ecstasy were very popular, but now we are seeing more people using drugs like ketamine and GHB, and people are not as aware of the effects."

Despite a raft of crackdowns and initiatives by successive governments, drug culture has slowly infiltrated young people's consciousness to the point where it's almost become an accepted norm. And illegal drugs like ecstasy and cocaine are now mixed in the same way a person might have a cigarette and a pint of lager.

"There's a real lack of knowledge, and young people need to be better informed about what effects drugs can have, but they also need to realise that there is help and support out there."

Harry Shapiro, communications director at rehabilitation charity DrugScope, says that drugs misuse among teenagers needs to be put in proportion.

"There is relatively little drug use at all under the age of 15 and, overall, with young people, the trend is steadying.

"So despite all the doom and gloom regarding the reclassification of cannabis that some people thought would
lead to more youngsters using it, that doesn't seem to have happened."

Shapiro says that while 10 per cent of young people may think it's okay to smoke cannabis, another 90 per cent disagree. He also points out that while cocaine use has risen among 16-to-24-year-olds, the use of most other hard drugs has levelled off in the UK.

"In the 1980s and up to the mid-90s, we were seeing drug use of heroin, crack cocaine and cannabis really shoot up, and it pushed us to the top of the EU league in terms of drug use. But heroin and crack users appear to be ageing and, significantly, there's no sign that more young people are coming through," he says.

The challenge now is to ensure that pattern continues and to help those whose lives have been blighted by drugs.

"What the Government's strategy has to focus on is
when people come out of treatment there must be sufficient support, housing and jobs to help them get back on their feet.

"It's critical that people have a reason to stay off the drugs because otherwise it's like a revolving door."