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."