41% of people receiving treatment for drug use are under the age of 35, a study has found.

The report titled 'Substance use in adolescence and emerging adulthood', was compiled by the Faculty of Social Wellbeing and was commissioned and funded by the Save a Life Foundation.

Treatment demand for drug use has been quite consistent over recent years, it read, and is especially sought by males. 41% of individuals accessing treatment are under the age of 35, but the results also highlighted that there is an ageing population for treatment.

Regarding cannabis, the perception of availability of cannabis appears to be higher than previous years, even though Malta has a lower use of cannabis among 15-16-year-olds than the European average. This is a topic which is drawing attention lately, especially with the proposed cannabis white paper currently undergoing consultation.

The study found, among other things, that men tend to consume alcohol more than women.

The study took into consideration 13-30-year-olds. The study found, among other things, that there is a steady decrease in heavy episodic drinking in 15- to 16-year-olds. The gender gap is also narrowing among 15-16 year olds, but males tend to use alcohol more than females, the study suggests. Tobacco use has more than halved among 15- to 16-year-olds.

Recommendations were made that policies must be evidence-based, integrated, balanced and multidisciplinary, recognise the association between age and drug use.

A number of prevention activities should also be taken into consideration, the study suggested, and highlighted that they should ensure the active engagement of young people in their families, peer groups, workplaces and in wider communities.

Present during the meeting were Speaker Anglu Farrugia, PN MP Claudio Grech, who is also the chairman of Save a Life Foundation, and the Dean of the Faculty of Social Wellbeing at the University of Malta Profs. Andrew Azzopardi, among others.

"The study that we are presenting today is focused on adolescent substance use," Grech said.

Grech remarked that if people are jailed for drug use "the problems increase not decrease". He also noted that the Faculty of Social Wellbeing should be given much more space to address social issues.

Azzopardi noted that the workload of NGOs who help victims of drug abuse is increasing, showing that "we are failing them".

The dean observed that Malta has a serious problem. "If the Government and the Opposition will continue to trivialise these issues, instead focusing on debate rather than the essence, we will have a problem. We are trying to democratise the knowledge we have; it is in the politicians' hands to legislate," Azzopardi remarked.

The Dean said that this report shows that politicians, academics, and NGOs can work and consult together in order to celebrate 'a step forward' for the country, instead of waiting for problems to mount.