Pubdate: Sun, 2 Dec 2007 Source: Sunday Mail (UK) Copyright: 2007 Daily Record and Sunday Mail Ltd. Contact: http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2260 Author: Mark Aitken Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?207 (Cannabis - United Kingdom) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin) 600 13-YEAR-OLDS USE HEROIN Drugs Crisis - a New Generation of Addicts CHILDREN as young as 13 are regularly abusing class A drugs - with 630 admitting being on heroin and cocaine. The Sunday Mail can reveal more than 2500 schoolkids have tried smack, coke and ecstasy. The shocking figures confirm fears Scotland is breeding a new generation of addicts rather than beating our drugs plague. Last night campaigners demanded action was taken to curb the problem. Tom Roberts, head of public affairs at Children 1st, said: "The fact children of 13 are able to access hard drugs is a major concern. "Drug use is usually a sign of other troubles in a young person's life and a sign that they need support." Alistair Ramsay, chairman of Drugwise, said: "It is very worrying that young people whose brains and bodies are still forming are using drugs that can have long-term effects on their development. "Education on drugs should focus on the positive rather than negatives. "We need a programme that promotes healthy lifestyles." The horrifying extent of drug use among teenagers was revealed in the Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle And Substance Survey. They polled youngsters last year and found that four per cent of 13-year-olds last year - more than 2500 youngsters - had used at least one illegal drug in the previous month. A quarter of those - 630 teens - had tried heroin, while the same number admitting taking cocaine. Last night Scottish Labour justice spokeswoman Pauline McNeill said: "People will be shocked children so young are taking hard drugs. We need early intervention to tackle this problem." Tory justice spokesman Bill Aitken added: "People, particularly parents, will be horrified youngsters are already on the route to addiction. "I will be demanding we find out how young kids are getting drugs." The Scottish Government said: "We must ensure integrated care which promotes recovery becomes the norm. "Emphasis on prevention will run throughout our strategy, from better drugs education to more chances for youngsters and better outcomes for those in substance-misusing homes." The Sunday Mail shocked the entire nation in January 2006 by revealing an 11-year-old girl had collapsed in her primary school class after taking heroin. Social workers discovered she had been an addict for two years. In January 1998, 13-year-old Allan Harper became Scotland's youngest heroin overdose victim. [sidebar] SHOCK FIGURES More than 11,000 13-year-old school pupils were asked if they had taken drugs in the last month. Three per cent of boys and two per cent of girls said they had taken cannabis. One per cent said they had taken heroin - 630 of Scotland's 63,000 13-year-olds. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake