Rise in children getting drug and alcohol treatment in Dudley

Statistics from the corporation’s Shared Data Unit reveal in 2024/25 a total of 90 under 18s were having treatment, which was an increase from 70 the previous year.

Shockingly, more than half (56 percent) of children receiving treatment were aged 15 or under while 11 percent were under 14.

The increase mirrors national trends where more than 16,000 under 18s needed treatment, a rise of 13 percent on 2023/24.

Experts say an increased use of ketamine and easier online access to drug dealers are among reasons for the rise in numbers of young people requiring treatment.

Figures for Dudley show 15 children got treatment for ketamine abuse in 2024/25; the substance causing the biggest problem was cannabis which led to 70 children needing treatment.

Nicotine caused problems requiring treatment for 15 children and five more needed help for issues related to ecstasy.

Of the 5,435 suspensions from Dudley schools during 2024/25, a total of 92 were related to drugs or alcohol, 129 children were excluded during the same period and three of those were due to drugs or alcohol.

All the alcohol and drug exclusions and suspensions in Dudley were from secondary schools.

The drug support service WithYou says in-patient facilities are the safest way to help young people however currently there are no state-run specialist facilities for under 18s in the UK and very few places in the private sector.

Grace Willsher, regional head of young person service delivery at WithYou, believes a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to substance misuse from many schools is also among the barriers to young people accessing timely treatment.

She said: “If a young person was found to have cannabis on them, they would immediately be excluded rather than have someone sit down with them and try to understand what’s going on.

“Young people might not want to come forward in school to say they need help due to that fear of being permanently excluded.”

Dr Wendy Taylor, from the Local Government Association, said: “For most children in need of addiction treatment, community-based treatment is the most effective and appropriate option.

“It is less disruptive to their daily lives, more accessible, and includes vital support such as counselling, family engagement, and harm reduction that help young people rebuild resilience and stability within their own communities.

“Councils are doing all they can to meet the needs of their residents, but public health budgets have been cut by £1 billion since 2015. While there has been a recent funding boost, many vital services remain at risk.”

A spokesperson from the Department of Health and Social Care said: “We are committed to ensuring that anyone with a drug or alcohol problem can access the help and support they need.

“That’s why, from 2026, all treatment and recovery funding will be channelled through the Public Health Grant, with over £13 billion allocated across three years, including £3.4 billion ringfenced for drug and alcohol treatment and recovery.”

Have you been affected by the issues in this article? What is your experience of drug and alcohol support services in Dudley? Contact Dudleyldr@Reachplc.com

Ed’s Note: The picture with this story is illustrative only – it was taken in Walsall which is not part of Dudley borough