'Rise' in club drug treatment

14 November 2012 Last updated at 07:37 ET

The number of people seeking treatment for so-called "club drugs" has risen in the past six years, according to the National Treatment Agency.

Last year, 6,486 people were treated for substances such as ecstasy and ketamine - up from 4,656 in 2005-06.

But, despite the rise in that period, the last 12 months has seen a fall in those treated for many such drugs.

The report refers to those who sought help in a variety of ways, such as counselling and detoxification.

The NTA estimates that around one million people used club drugs last year, although overall drug use has declined in England over the past six years.

It said club drug users make up just 2% of adults in treatment and 10% of young people in specialist services.

Its research suggests that ecstasy remains the most common club drug people receive treatment for.

However, the number of new adults entering treatment halved, from around 2,000 in 2005-06 to just over 1,000 last year.

It is clear that some club drug users are developing serious health problems and even dependency

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'Rise' in club drug treatment