11,000 children with dependencies
Updated on 06 July 2009
More than 11,000 under-16s have been treated for addiction to cannabis, heroin and alcohol in 2007-08, new figures show.
Data obtained by the Tories revealed 11,294 under-16s were treated for drug and alcohol dependency.
A total of 6,075 children were treated for addiction to cannabis, of whom 102 were under 12.
Another 4,005 were treated for alcohol dependency - 57 of whom were under 12.
Another 93 were treated for addiction to heroin and other opiates, including 10 under the age of 12.
The figures were obtained in a Parliamentary answer.
Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said: "Labour are neglecting a forgotten generation of children.
"It's a sad indictment of our broken society that so many are turning to things like drug and alcohol abuse at such a young age. The Government needs to take action now, before it's too late.
"The NHS needs a robust strategy to improve public health - like the one we proposed last year, with ring-fenced budgets and proper accountability."
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