HOOKED ON DRUGS AGED JUST 12

Children as young as 12 in Norwich are dabbling with potentially
deadly drugs , the Evening News can reveal.

Youngsters are caught-up in the dangerous world of illegal substances
before they even enter their teenage years and a handful have sought
help from a city drugs charity.

The mother of a heroin addict, who became hooked on drugs when he was
just 12, today expressed her dismay that others could be following in
her son's tragic footsteps.

Paul Hillier fell into a life of crime to support his heroin
addiction. He died less than 10 years after first touching drugs,
hanging himself in his cell at Norwich Prison while on remand for a
burglary he committed to fund his habit.

Catherine Hillier warned a serious crackdown on drug dealers was
needed to prevent a similar tragedy.

Drugs charity the Matthew Project and Norfolk police today stressed
drug abuse at such a tender age was the exception rather than the rule.

The charity, based in Pottergate, provides counselling, advice,
information and support services for people with problems relating to
drug misuse or alcohol abuse.

Julian Bryant, the charity's acting director, said it was not unheard
of for pre-teen children to get caught up in the potentially dangerous
world of drugs.

He said: "We see young people from the age of 12 upwards. Although
that is rare it is not unheard of.

"In terms of hard drug use among youngsters they tend to be in their
mid teens."

Prime Minister Tony Blair sparked controversy last month when he
indicated heads would be given powers for random drug tests in schools.

When the Department for Education and Skills guidance note came out it
asserted the rights of heads to conduct testing, but only in targeted
circumstances.

It urged caution in implementing such a policy, and advised head
teachers to consult "local partners", including the police, before
introducing drug tests.

Graham Porter, head of Taverham High School and spokesman for the
Secondary Heads Association, said he was not surprised children so
young were using drugs.

He said: "I am not surprised that 12-year-old youngsters are using
drugs, but that probably is not the average age.

"These days youngsters grow up faster and they are exposed to a more
pseudo-grown up world than we were at their age."

Mr Porter said he was not aware of children turning up for lessons
under the influence of drugs.

And he added he was not in favour of bringing in random drug tests for
pupils at school.

He said: "It would be naive as head of a secondary school not to be
aware of what youngsters are exposed to out there and I am very
sympathetic to young people who grow up in very challenging
circumstances. They are exposed to things we were never exposed to.

"But I think most heads would agree that random drug testing is a daft
thing to do and could not be implemented.

"I am not noted for being hard line but I do take a very hard line on
drugs coming into school.

"I let the children know that if they come in with drugs or are
selling them at school they would not find themselves in school for
much longer.

"As far as I am concerned their parents are obliged to send them to
school and it is going to be clean. I will not yield on that and I
make sure the students know that."

The ?7,000-a-year Norwich School is thought to be the only school out
of around 500 in Norfolk where suspect students are already tested.

PC Richard Price, of the multi-agency Drug Action Team, which includes
Norfolk police and the county council, said he thought it was rare
that children as young as 12 were mixed up in drug use.

He said: "In our experience that is the exception but not the
rule."

The Evening News reported last month how The Matthew Project had seen
a sharp rise in the number of people seeking help from the charity -
with crack cocaine use on the up.

The project had to lay on an extra 1,500 advice, counselling and
support sessions because of increased cries for help. It also has a
team of workers that go into schools to provide education on the
dangers of drugs.

It aims to provide a point of contact for every school pupil across
Norfolk and has spread the word with the help of Canary stars Iwan
Roberts and Robert Green plus former Swardeston model Sarah Thomas.

John Birchall, spokesman for Norfolk County Council, which is the
local education authority, said a lot of work to warn youngsters about
the perils of drug abuse was done through the multi-agency drug action
team.

He said: "We do want young people to find out about the facts rather
than simply get into drugs through ignorance.

"There is a new service called T2 which is specifically to provide
advice and support to young people on the question of drugs."

* The Matthew Project can be contacted on 0845 0637847 or (01603)
764754.