Born in 1946 and brought up in Cupar, Fife, I was educated at the local school - 
Shock rise in use among under-16s
By Campbell Gunn
THE NUMBER of children in Scotland treated for cocaine addiction has trebled in the past five years, shock new figures reveal.
Last year, 22 children aged under 16 were reported to drug treatment and rehabilitation services for cocaine use.
In 2001, that figure was just seven, and it has risen steadily since then.
The figures come in the wake of the revelation that more than 500 under-16s, including a child of eight, were put in rehab for drug addiction in Scotland last year.
The cocaine figures were contained in a written parliamentary answer to Banff and Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson.
They also revealed that in the past five years, 12 children had to be treated in hospital for cocaine poisoning. And six were treated for mental and behavioural disorders due to the drug.
Thanks to the wide availability of cocaine, and the drop in its price, a line of the drug is now available in clubs for less than the price of a glass of wine.
And the increasing problems the drug brings has seen the setting up of a Scottish branch of Cocaine Anonymous, a self-help group for addicts. They meet regularly in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Irvine.
But the news children are becoming addicted has come as a shock.
Mr Stevenson said, "Cocaine has dropped in price, and youngsters are starting to pay for that availability.
"The key thing is to focus on how children take up illegal drugs and to encourage abstaining. We don't want a repeat of the situation with heroin."
Very concerned
Conservative justice spokeswoman Margaret Mitchell said she is very concerned.
"It shows yet again the root cause of the problem is not being addressed early enough.
"We have argued Drug Testing Orders should be available to Children's Panels, to help intervene as quickly as possible.
"We have also pushed for a directory, similar to that in England and Wales, whereby addicts can find out their nearest rehabilitation places.
"However, it's important we have a coherent education strategy that deters children from experimenting with drugs in the first place."
A spokesman for the Scottish Executive said there was an emerging problem with drug misuse among youngsters in Scotland.
"However, we must keep the cocaine problem in context. The numbers are small compared to drugs such as heroin. But we are alive to the problem.
"Cocaine is a very dangerous drug, and we have been tackling it through TV advertising, while the police have been tackling the dealers."
Cocaine is a highly addictive and fast-acting drug whose effects last roughly 30 minutes, giving users a feeling of confidence and alertness.
However, some users experience tenseness and anxiety while using it, and afterwards many suffer from fatigue and depression.
It can also cause convulsions, chest pain and sudden death from heart attacks or strokes.
Sniffing cocaine can also damage the inside of the nose, as famously happened with the EastEnders actress Daniella Westbrook.
Long-term use of the drug can lead to paranoia, hallucinations, aggression and weight loss, as well as causing damage to the heart and circulation.
