The NHS report states that there has been a decline in the number of schoolchildren who indulge in smoking, drinking or taking drugs. This report also contradicts the belief that young people are more prone to indulge in all this.

There has been a fall from 2001 to last year as 29 per cent in 2001 of 11 to 15 year old children took drugs on one occasion and last year the percentage was 22 per cent.

There was a dip from 61 per cent in 2003 to 51 per cent last year in children who ever used alcohol.

But smoking has shown tremendous decline from 53 per cent in 1982 to 29 per cent last year.

Doctors, the department of health and health campaigners have welcomed this as it means that the reason for this dip was better awareness, campaigns and education.

But they also stated that still there were many youngsters who indulged in some kind of addiction.

Martin Barnes of Drugscope, which represents drugs workers across the UK, said, "The survey shows an encouraging downward trend countering some of the more alarmist claims, but the figures do have limitations. Headline statistics can't show the harms that drug use causes to children."