Voluntary drug testing at schools might be introduced after it was revealed that 60 per cent of young abusers have their first illegal drug experience before 16.

The government said it would consider introducing tests after Central Registry of Drug Abuse figures released yesterday showed that 1,226 regular drug abusers under 21 were reported in the first quarter this year, a 15.2 per cent surge from the 1,064 last year.

Of 876 registered abusers who revealed their age when they first took drugs, 556 said they were younger than 16. Nine per cent said they first took drugs when they were 11 or 12.

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