Hundreds of under-10s given treatment for alcohol abuse
HUNDREDS of children aged under 10 in Scotland have received medical treatment for alcohol abuse.
Up to 225 under-10s needed help for drink-related injuries or illness over the last three years.
NHS Ayrshire and Arran was the worst affected health board area, with 86 under-10s treated between 2011 and 2013. It was followed by NHS Tayside with 61 cases and NHS Forth Valley with 33.
Numbers soared in the age group 10 to 18, with a total of 4,884 treated for an alcohol-related condition.
NHS Ayrshire and Arran again had the highest incidence, with 1,483 cases, followed by NHS Tayside with 1,385 and NHS Forth Valley with 612.
The figures were released after a freedom of information request by the Scottish Lib Dems.
Jim Hume MSP, the party’s health spokesman, said young people were “paying the price” for a failure to tackle problem drinking.
He said: “People will be shocked that more than 200 children under 10 were treated for alcohol-related injury or illness. They should be out kicking a ball about, not hitting the bottle.
“It should set alarm bells ringing that so many who shouldn’t be drinking at all are being treated for alcohol-related conditions.
“Problem drinking can rip apart families and puts enormous strain on our public services, from our hospitals to our criminal justice system.”
Children are especially vulnerable to alcohol’s toxic effects as their brains and bodies are still developing
The figures come just months after it emerged children as young as four are being referred to drugs and alcohol treatment services.
Referrals can mean children are vulnerable to misuse, either through exposure from a parent or relative, or from starting to abuse substances themselves.
In the case of the four-year-old, in South Ayrshire, “parental substance misuse” prompted the move.
Mr Hume called for the Scottish Government to work with young people.
Dr Evelyn Gillan, chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland, said the new data highlighted a need for more to be done to protect children.
She said: “Children are especially vulnerable to alcohol’s toxic effects as their brains and bodies are still developing. But they are encouraged to drink by pocket money prices and positive messages about drinking they see all around.”
The Scottish Government said its planed 50p-per-unit minimum price for alcohol would help tackle the country’s “difficult relationship” with drink. It has been delayed by a legal challenge.
A spokeswoman added: “We are currently taking forward substance misuse education work in schools, where young people will learn about a variety of substances, including alcohol. They will explore the impact that risk-taking behaviour has on life choices and health.”
