Children as young as 12 are being referred for specialist drug and alcohol treatment in the north.
Shetland Islands Council revealed the age of the youngest child who had been identified as at risk by education and children’s services in response to a freedom of information request.
It was the only local authority in the north and north east to divulge the information.
However, last night, an Aberdeen drugs charity said it was not uncommon to receive reports of youngsters experimenting with drugs from the age of 12.
Luan Grugeon, chief executive of Drugs Action, also warned of the increasing threats posed by legal highs.
She said: “In recent years, there has been an increase in the availability of psychoactive substances that can be bought on the internet and in shops. Because they are legal they are quite appealing because young people think they are relatively safe.
“We want to get the message out that just because something is legal doesn’t mean it is harmless. It’s a real challenge and it’s increasing.”
A four-year-old was the youngest child identified as at risk in Scotland, having been referred by South Ayrshire Council. A referral can mean the child is vulnerable to drug and alcohol misuse through exposure from a parent or other relative, or could have started abusing substances themselves.
Treatment experts said the most common reason for children to come into contact with drugs and alcohol was through their parents.
Andrew Brown, director of programmes at charity Mentor UK, which works to protect children from drug and alcohol misuse, said: “It is vital that alcohol and drug education improve.
“Our survey of teachers suggests that at the moment delivery is inconsistent, and that the norm is to timetable only one or two sessions a year. This may sound sufficient, but evidence would suggest that longer programmes that systematically build skills and values are much more likely to prevent young people from coming to harm than one-off lessons.”
Councils in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland were contacted and asked for the youngest age of children to be referred by education and children’s services to specialist alcohol and drug treatment services in the years 2011/12, 2012/13 and 2013/14 so far. A total of 140 authorities replied.