Richer children ‘drink, vape and use illegal drugs more'

Vaping, illegal drug use and alcohol consumption appear more common among children from better-off families, analysis has suggested.

- REBECCA THOMAS & AINE FOX

A greater proportion of children aged 11 to 15 from higher socioeconomic backgrounds in England self-reported their experience in these three areas, data showed.

The Social Mobility Commission said its analysis of NHS Digital data showed that 32 per cent of young people from the group registering high on the Family Affluence Scale, had consumed alcohol in the previous month, compared to less than 19 per cent of those in the low group.

Some 13 per cent had vaped in the high group, compared with 10 per cent in the least advantaged group, while 23 per cent had taken drugs in the most affluent group, compared with 17 per cent in the low group. Figures show a sharp increase in vaping, alcohol use and drug use since 2016 after a significant decline between the early 2000s and 2015.

The commission also warned of a “potential crisis” in adolescent mental health in the UK as data shows 35 per cent of teenage girls reporting feeling nervous and losing confidence in new situations, a figure authors described as “strikingly high”.