Lansley warns "shocking" number of children addicted to alcohol and drugs

Andrew Lansley has accused Labour of neglecting a “forgotten generation of children” after it was revealed that 11,294 under-16-year-olds were treated for alcohol and drug dependency last year.

The Shadow Health Secretary, who uncovered the figures, called on the Government to take action to tackle the problem “before it’s too late”.

And he said it was a “sad indictment of our broken society” that so many children are turning to things like drug and alcohol abuse at such a young age.

The new information shows that in 2008:

• 6,075 under-16-year-olds were treated for cannabis dependency - with 102 of those under 12
• 4,005 children under-16-year-olds were treated for alcohol dependency - with 57 of those under 12
• 93 under-16-year-olds were treated for heroin dependency - with 10 of those under 12

Andrew said, “Tackling these problems has been low on (Labour’s) priority list and their irresponsible decision to roll out 24-hour drinking on our towns and communities has not helped.”

And he stressed that the NHS needs “a robust strategy” to improve public health – and that more must be done to tackle the wider causes of social breakdown.