GROWING numbers of children are being admitted to hospitals in the Lothians after taking drugs.
Fifty minors – including seven who were under 15 – were discharged in 2006-2007.
The increasing levels of substance abuse among young people have sparked concern among health and political leaders.
Gavin Brown, the Conservative MSP for the Lot
hians, whose parliamentary question uncovered the rise, said that statistics should act as a "wake-up call".
Drug use is also rising significantly among people aged over 21, although it has dipped slightly among younger adults.
Dr Dermot Gorman, NHS Lothian deputy director of public health, said: "It is always a matter of concern when a young person is admitted to hospital with a diagnosis that includes drug or alcohol consumption.
"While the numbers admitted to hospital are relatively small they indicate a wider underlying problem in society.
With people this young our aim is always to work with partner organisations to provide co-ordinated care which addresses all their health and welfare needs.
"We would encourage any young person who has difficulties with drugs and alcohol to come forward. It is much easier to tackle these problems at an early stage."
NHS Lothian recently revealed increasing numbers of schoolchildren are being admitted to hospital after getting dangerously drunk. New figures showed the number of times teenagers had to stay overnight due to alcohol rose by a third last year, with the biggest increase in the 13-14 age group as 20 boys and 28 girls were admitted.
Mr Brown said: "These figures are a major concern. This is further evidence of the failings of the last Scottish Executive over its lack of a coherent drug strategy whilst also being a wake-up call for the current Government.
"It is important that youngsters are educated and made aware of the consequences of drug misuse. There is also the underlying issue of why people take drugs and not nearly enough has been done in recent years to tackle this."
A Scottish Government spokesman said: "We will publish a new drugs strategy for Scotland before summer. The Minister for Community Safety, Fergus Ewing, and officials from our drug policy unit have held detailed discussions with stakeholders, experts, practitioners, politicians from all of the main parties and service users as we seek to build consensus around this new approach.
"A priority for the strategy will be children and young people. We must get better at preventing people taking illegal drugs in the first place. Young people deserve to have credible and reliable information to help them make the right choices.
"And we are committed to working with local authorities and others to improve the support and training available to teachers, and other practitioners delivering substance misuse education in schools, to boost their skills, knowledge and confidence. But it is essential that drugs education does not stop with schools. We also need to support families and parents to help them help their children."
