Teenage drug use increases

The number of teen-agers being admitted to hospital with drug and alcohol problems and sexually transmitted diseases has risen sharply.

NHS figures released by the Conservatives showed admissions to hospitals for drug abuse had increased by more than half since 2000, while there was a 21 per cent increase in admissions for sexually transmitted diseases and a 33 per cent increase in admissions of 11 to 15-year-olds with drug problems over the same period, although the total number of teenagers admitted for drug problems was up only 2 per cent.

The figures were released by Andrew Lansley, the shadow Health Secretary, ahead of a speech on public health tomorrow. He said the figures were evidence of Britain's "broken society".

Mr Lansley said: "It's a sad indictment of our broken society that so many teenagers are turning to things like drugs and alcohol abuse at such a young age. The Government needs to take action now.

"The true toll on teenagers' lives is far higher. We must do more to tackle the wider causes of social breakdown. That means we need to strengthen families, radically reform the welfare system and provide more good school places."

But Labour ministers retorted by hailing the Government's campaigns to cut drug use among youngsters.