This release examines the extent and trends in drug use among a nationally representative sample of 16 to 59 year olds resident in households in England and Wales, and is based on results from the 2018/19 Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW). The main analysis presented in this bulletin is based on data for 16 to 59 year olds (and the sub-group of 16 to 24 year olds). Data for 60 to 74 year olds is presented separately as the intention is to review the quality of these data before the 2020/21 survey and make a decision on whether to continue to ask these questions to the 60 to 74 age group.

If the data continue to be collected after this point, a new time series will be produced for 16 to 74 year olds, alongside the main 16 to 59 time series measure. As estimates are very low, analysis for 60 to 74 year olds has been limited to the extent of drug use and also drug use by sex.

The release covers the following topics:

• extent and trends in drug use among adults, including separate analysis of young adults (16 to 24 year olds);
• frequency of drug use in the last year;
• drug use, by personal, household and area characteristics, and lifestyle factors;
• use of new psychoactive substances (NPS);
• perceived ease of obtaining illegal drugs.