11-YEAR-OLD TREATED FOR HEROIN ADDICTION

CHILDREN as young as 11 have been receiving treatment for heroin
addiction in our region, it was revealed today.

New figures obtained by the Yorkshire Evening Post show that a total
of 34 under-16s in Yorkshire and Humberside were given help for
problems with the class-A drug between April and December last year.

Although most of those in rehab were aged 15, four 14-year-olds, three
13-year-olds, four 12-year-olds and one 11-year-old were among those
treated.

Their cases are just the tip of an alarming iceberg uncovered by the
YEP. Today's figures also reveal that during the same eight-month
period in the region:

- - More than 70 youngsters aged 11, 12 or 13 were treated for cannabis
abuse;

- - One 15-year-old was desperately trying to beat crack
addiction;

- - Two 15-year-olds were known to be hooked on cocaine;

- - Eight under-16s needed help for problems with amphetamines.

In Leeds, a total of 99 under-18s were undergoing drug treatment in
December alone. The figures for the rest of West Yorkshire were 94 in
Kirklees, 38 in Wakefield, 64 in Bradford and 27 in Calderdale.

Today's statistics were released to the YEP by the National Treatment
Agency, a specialist health authority set up by the Government in 2001.

Matt Knight, deputy regional manager for Yorkshire and Humberside,
said: "Any child or young person who requires treatment for heroin
misuse is one too many.

"We are committed to ensuring that the right services are available to
children in the local area."

A spokeswoman for the agency said details on the 11-year-old heroin
abuser's home town or city were not being made public.

She also said that Yorkshire and Humberside's problems were on a
similar scale to those in other parts of the country. However, the
figures do show that Leeds has more under-18s in rehab than
Manchester, Liverpool or Newcastle.

Britain's youth drug problems were highlighted last month when an
11-year-old Glasgow girl collapsed in school after smoking heroin.

She was reported to have been taking the class-A substance for two
months, buying it in UKP10 bags from dealers outside a shopping centre.