Updated 5:46pm 1 June 2012

11,000 under-16s addicted to drugs

MORE than 11,000 under-16s were treated for addiction to cannabis, heroin and alcohol in 2007-08, figures out 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. Figures were obtained in a Parliamentary answer.

Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said: “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.”

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