Fresh concerns have been raised in Tayside after the Scottish Government released shocking new figures on juvenile drug use.
The statistics show 33.7% of users surveyed in Tayside first took drugs before they were 16. The Scottish average is just 24.2%.
The report also reveals many of those who admit to drug use first tried narcotics when they were as young as 10, while some were even younger.
Cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy, solvents and magic mushrooms are just some of the drugs youngsters took for the first time, according to the report.
North East MSP Alex Johnstone rounded on the figures, telling The Courier: “These statistics are a damning indictment of a drugs policy which is clearly a catastrophic failure.
“The fact that so many children have access to illegal drugs at such a young age is both tragic and outrageous.
“The tragedy is that a number of these children will ultimately become dependent on drugs.”
A Scottish Government spokeswoman stressed that overall drug use in Tayside has fallen.
She said it is inaccurate to reference figures relating to when respondents first used drugs which may have been decades ago to comment on the Scottish Government’s current policy on drug misuse.
For our full report, see Tuesday’s Courier or try our digital edition.