CHILDREN OF ADDICTS GET DRUGS WORKER

Campaigners and police today backed plans to target children as young
as five in a new drive to stop them turning to drink and drugs. A
specialist is being recruited to identify Potteries youngsters at
greater risk of addiction because their parents, brothers and sisters
are users.

It is believed scores of children could be destined for lives of
substance abuse as a result of their family's problems, sparking fears
they may also turn to crime in later life.

Staffordshire Police say more than a third of all crime in the county
is drug related.

The new substance misuse worker is being taken on by Stoke-on-Trent
Youth Offending Service - a partnership including police, probation,
social services and education, set up to prevent youngsters from
breaking the law.

Service head John Tate said: "Creating the post doesn't suppose
children aged five have a substance misuse problem. But one of our
jobs is to prevent offending and we try to identify young people who
may be at more risk of turning to crime because of their family situation.

"Where people develop a substance misuse problem we have concerns that
it can bring them into contact with people with whom it's better they
don't have contact."

Police say they know of children as young as 11 having used heroin in
Stoke-on-Trent and a pioneering new drug treatment centre in the city
is already helping 11 and 12-year-olds tackle cannabis misuse.

Staff at The Lock complex in Etruria are also working with 13 and
14-year-olds known to have sampled LSD and ecstasy, while scores of
youngsters, aged 15 to 18, are being referred with heroin addiction.

Maureen Roberts, of Biddulph, who set up a drugs helpline, today
backed the new specialist's appointment.

They will only work in the Potteries, but the Youth Offending Service
for the rest of Staffordshire - including the Moorlands, Newcastle,
Stafford and Stone - already employs substance misuse experts.

Mrs Roberts said: "This is really good for Stoke-on-Trent. Problems
start very early where children grow up in households where it's
normal to take drugs. It's about educating them young.

"Sadly kids can be the victims because mums and dads who take hard
drugs can keep it together on the surface but the kids are living a
nightmare."

There are already 300 youngsters in the Potteries identified as being
at risk of offending for a variety of reasons and some are believed to
be living with family who abuse drink and drugs.

Further families are expected to be referred to the new worker by
police, schools staff and social workers.

Children may be referred to The Lock for treatment and parents will
also be offered help, including group support, to tackle any problems.

Superintendent Mick Harrison, of Stoke-on-Trent Police, said: "It's
absolutely crucial that we spot young people who are particularly
vulnerable to substance misuse so that we can help stop them getting
involved in addiction and crime."