A TEENAGE girl was so high on cannabis she bought at the gates of a school she fell and banged her head and had to be taken to hospital.
It is believed the 14-year-old suffered the injury after she and a friend were sold the drugs outside Millburn Academy in the Highland capital.
A police investigation was launched after officers discovered pupils on study leave had taken illegal substances.
As part of the probe and an 18-year-old man was arrested and reported to the fiscal at Inverness.
It is understood he has been charged in connection with the alleged supply of controlled drugs.
Police confirmed yesterday that a 14-year-old Millburn Academy student was admitted to Raigmore Hospital “as a result of the misuse of drugs”.
The incident prompted the secondary’s head teacher, Gavin MacLean, to write to parents and carers at the 1,146-pupil school to reassure them that staff were working with police to ensure their children remain as “safe as possible”.
Mr MacLean said: “Following an incident on Friday concerning senior pupils on study leave seeking to experiment with controlled drugs outwith school premises, inquiries by police with the support of school management have led to an 18-year-old male being arrested and reported to the procurator fiscal.
“I would like to take this opportunity to reassure parents that we take any such matters very seriously and will continue to work collaboratively with Police Scotland in ensuring that Millburn Academy pupils remain as safe as possible and that they understand their role in reporting concerns appropriately.”
Mr MacLean added that plans were already being drawn-up for a Safe Millburn event later this term.
He said in his letter: “If, as a parent, you have any concerns, please contact me or your child’s year head or guidance teacher at the school.
“If you have any information regarding drug-related activity, you are urged to contact the police.”
Parent Donald MacKenzie, who lives in the Crown area of Inverness and has a 14-year-old child at the school, said: “I think Millburn, in common with other schools, is very good at instructing pupils on the dangers of drugs, but some people will always make mistakes.”
He said that older primary pupils were attending safety awareness courses at the Cameron Barracks in Inverness this week, and they included information about the dangers of illegal drug use.
A police spokesman said that officers received a report about senior pupils on study leave “seeking to experiment” with controlled drugs outwith school premises.
He added: “Police inquiries with the support of school management led to the 18-year-old being arrested. He does not have an association with the school, and there is no date for his appearance in court.
“Police and Millburn Academy would like to reinforce safety messages around the health risks associated with trying controlled drugs, including suspected legal highs, and would wish to reassure parents of pupils attending school that officers will robustly deal with those individuals who choose to engage in supply activity.”
Highland Council’s leader of the City of Inverness area, Councillor Ian Brown, said: “It is disappointing this has happened with all the drug education pupils get today.
“Parents and teachers will have to keep talking to the kids, and if there is anything more that the council needs to do, then we will do it. Having said that, we see this as an isolated incident.”