Children seek help for cannabis abuse at 13

CHILDREN as young as 13 are being treated for cannabis addiction and 16-year-olds are attending treatment programmes for heroin and cocaine abuse, figures show.

A detailed examination of exactly who is being treated for addiction in one health board area shows that of the thousands looking for help each year, more than 400 have not yet reached their 20th birthday.

Of the 416 teenagers getting addiction counselling and treatment in the South Eastern Health Board area, one in three are attending for alcohol abuse, the Drugs Misuse report for 2003 shows.