Pubdate: Mon, 21 Jul 2008 Source: Daily Record (UK) Copyright: 2008 Daily Record and Sunday Mail Ltd. Contact: http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/111 Author: Jack Mathieson Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) SHOCK OF CHILDREN'S OVERDOSE FIGURES A child is treated for a drugs overdose once every eight days in Scotland. Campaigners said yesterday that the "horrifying" figures should inspire fresh thinking on how to tackle the drug menace. Under-16s are regularly taken to hospital after overdosing on heroin, cocaine or solvents. Medics have also had to deal with children with behavioural disorders after taking cannabis, sedatives or hallucinogenics. At least 224 youngsters were hospitalised due to drug-related illness in the five years to 2007. The figures remained almost constant over that period, running at an average of almost 45 a year. Alistair Ramsay, who runs consultancy group Drugwise, said the figures were "horrifying". He said: "The government need to stop using scare tactics and instead illustrate to young people how a healthy lifestyle without drugs is actually quite cool." The figures were worst in the Greater Glasgow & Clyde area, which saw 57 cases. But Ayrshire and Arran had 47, Lothian had 43, Fife had 25 and Lanarkshire had 20. A Scottish government spokeswoman said action was being taken to improve classroom education about substance misuse. She said: "Schools have an important role to play in developing young people's qualities of resilience and adaptability so that they are able to make informed choices." - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin