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.

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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.