The number of people in England recovering from drug addiction with the help of specialist services has reached its highest level for seven years, show the latest figures.

Annual figures from the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse also show that demand for treatment is falling.1 But the generations differ: fewer young people (aged 18 to 24) are entering treatment for drug addiction, but more people over 40 are seeking help, indicating that heroin and crack cocaine are becoming less attractive among younger people in particular.

The number of people in treatment fell below 200 000 to 197 110 in 2011-12 for the first time since 2006-7. But the number of over 40s seeking help has continued to rise, and …