Children of 12 treated for drugs

Children as young as 12 are ending up in hospital in Guernsey because of alcohol or drug-related incidents, States figures have shown.

More than 60 young people aged under 18 were taken to hospital in emergencies in 2005 for drink or drug problems.

In the first six months of this year, 33 young people were treated.

The Director of Public Health, Dr David Jeffs, said the number of children being treated in hospital was probably the tip of the iceberg.

He said there could be many more needing help and called on parents to do more to prevent children gaining access to alcohol.

There needed to be a greater understanding across the community about sensible drinking, he said.