A–Z of prescribing for children

The Misuse of Drugs Act (1971) aims to prevent the misuse of controlled drugs by banning their possession, supply, manufacture, importation and exportation, unless with a particular licence. Often, it is presented as a list of prohibited drugs between three ‘classes’ (A, B and C), alongside the range of penalties according to the particular offence. Having a knowledge of current classifications and ‘street’ names of illicit drugs is vital, and an understanding of such drugs is needed during history-taking.

A recent survey in secondary school pupils (NHS, 2024) demonstrated that 13% of pupils had taken illicit drugs, a fall in prevalence since 2021 when it was 18%. The survey also explored aspects of young people's wellbeing, focusing on loneliness: 10% of students reported that they have felt lonely, with 18% feeling they had no-one to talk to, and 15% of students feeling ‘left out’. Whether or not there is a link between feelings of loneliness and illicit drug use has not been explored clearly. However, recreational drug use can be a significant source of status among young people, facilitating a shared sense of belonging and confirmation of group identity (Fletcher et al, 2010).