UNDER-15S ON DRUGS

NEARLY half of all Inverclyde addicts were under 15 when they first
started taking drugs.

Shocking new figures have revealed the extent of drug use among the
area's teenagers.

They show 41 per cent of people who needed help getting off drugs
last year were under 15 when they first started using them, and a
further 43 per cent were between 15 and 19.

And nearly half of Inverclyde's young drug users were addicts by the
time they were 19.

The figures were revealed in a national Scottish Drugs Misuse
Database survey on drug use across the country last year, based on
new clients looking for rehab services.

They suggested heroin was the most commonly-used drug, followed by
cannabis. Cocaine and crack cocaine were the next most used drugs.

Last year, 13 per cent of people turning up for rehabilitation
services were under 15.

Inverclyde MSP Duncan McNeil is currently talking with the Scottish
Government about a national drugs strategy. He said: "At this time of
year, we have drug dealers working hard to expand their customer
base, calculating to get young people and maintain them as customers
for many years.

"A lot of people are being tempted and it's important people don't
make those choices.

"We need education to help people to make proper choices. It's easy
to get onto the roundabout and stay there in terms of progression of drug use.

"We have got to be clear about challenging that behaviour and be
clear that a drug choice is a bad choice."

Robert Moran, convenor of Inverclyde Council's safe, sustainable
communities committee, said: "I think people need to stop using terms
like 'recreational' or 'soft' drugs. We need to get the message
across not to take it in the first place, and that message doesn't
seem to be getting across to users.

"There needs to be big initiatives highlighting the dangers of drugs."

A spokeswoman for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: "Tackling drug
and alcohol misuse is a top priority.

"We are committed to developing and improving the range of services
available and investing in services to identify problems early to
prevent them from becoming more severe.

"Local initiatives include the development of a new facility at the
Wellpark Centre in Greenock that will bring together health and
social care services for people with alcohol problems."