A survey of more than 600 young people between the ages of 10 to18 in the region showed that 32% had used some form of drugs, solvents or alcohol.

The solution is not in the hands of any one agency or department and young people have to be included as part of it

Eddie Isles, Swansea Youth Offending Team

The findings have been discussed by delegates from professional bodies at a two-day conference in the city.

They are trying to find ways of stopping young people misusing drugs and improving services in south Wales.

Organisers say they hope to gain a better understanding of the scale of the problem.

The 150 delegates at the conference at Swansea's Grand Theatre will look at ways of shaping specialist services to help young people across south Wales.

The event has been organised by a group involving the Drug and Alcohol Action Teams (DAAT) for Bro-Morgannwg and Morgannwg health areas, Swansea Youth Offending Team and Sandpit - the young people's substance misuse project in Swansea.

Solvent misuse can be deadly

Eddie Isles, Swansea's youth offending team manager, said: "Drug, substance and alcohol misuse is of substantial concern to communities all over the area.

"This is a problem for everyone and the link to crime is well documented.

"Drugs are part of the youth culture.

"Young people use these things experimentally and recreationally and then it goes on to become a problem for them.

Answers

Mr Isles added that all agencies can play a part in helping to solve the problem.

He said: "The solution is not in the hands of any one agency or department and young people have to be included as part of it.

"They are led by their peers and we have found that young people stay away from drugs if they are part of a group of friends or a family who are very negative against drugs."

On Monday keynote speakers will address the conference and on Tuesday delegates will take part in workshops to develop local services.