Doctor: ‘Legal highs’ playing growing role in child and teenage drug habits

ONE of the country’s main treatment services for child and teenage drug users has seen a 40% increase in referrals amid growing concern over products available from head shops.

Dr Bobby Smyth, consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist, said 130 people aged between 13 and 18 years of age were seen last year, 80% of whom were new clients.

Around one-third of those seen were experiencing serious problems with alcohol, while a similar number were addicted to cannabis, with the remaining clients using a range of different drugs, including heroin and cocaine.