The Social Mobility Commission, an independent government body, has found that children aged 11 to 15 from wealthier families are more likely to vape, drink alcohol, and use illegal drugs compared to their less affluent peers. The commission analyzed NHS data and expressed deep concern over the findings, although they could not identify the underlying causes.

According to the report, “The Childhood Origins of Social Mobility,” 32% of children from more affluent groups admitted to drinking alcohol in the previous month, compared to 17% in the less affluent group. Nearly 23% of children from wealthier backgrounds consumed illegal drugs in the previous month, while 17% of children from poorer backgrounds did the same. Vaping rates were also higher among richer children, with 13% having vaped in the past month compared to 10% from the poorer group.

Overall smoking and vaping rates:

Pandemic Restrictions May Have Affected Results, More Research Needed

Rob Wilson, deputy chair of the commission, highlighted the concerning nature of the findings, stating that while the exact reasons remain unknown, the report does emphasize the prevalence of anxiety and poor mental health among young people. He noted that adults in higher socioeconomic groups tend to drink alcohol more frequently, possibly due to affordability, which may make alcohol more accessible to their children.

The data used in the study comes from a period of pandemic restrictions in 2021, which researchers say may have influenced the results. The situation in more recent years remains unclear, and further research is needed to fully understand the underlying causes and trends.