According to official figures teenagers receiving help for drug and alcohol problems are increasing but the number of those seeking counseling for heroin and crack use is decreasing.

Last year around 745 teenagers who were under-18 sought help from the National Treatment Agency after abusing the Class A drug in England. In 2005-06 the number was 453.

However, the number of those getting help for their use of heroin has fallen in the last four years. Last year that number had fallen to 657 from 1081 in 2006-06.

Similarly, the number of young people being helped to tackle cocaine dropped to 746 last year than 806 in 2007-08.

Rosanna O'Connor, the NTA's director of delivery, said, “The reduction in the number of those getting help for heroin and crack was a further sign that the heroin epidemic which began in the
1980s may have peaked.”

Children who were addicted were small, including at least 15 children who were under 12, 14 children aged 12 to 14 and 169 children aged between 14 and 16 also needed help to stop using cocaine.