Nearly 500 kids have been admitted to A&E departments around Tayside for alcohol and drugs misuse in the last two years.
The Tele can reveal that 393 people up to the age of 17 were admitted to A&E for misuse of alcohol, while NHS Tayside A&E departments saw at least another 81 young people and kids for drug-related diagnoses.
Between 2014 and 2016, 22 kids from birth up to the age of four have attended A&E for misuse of alcohol or intoxication, with nine cases between 2014/15 rising to 13 the following year.
Councillor Ken Lynn, Dundee City Council health convener, said the statistics were “not to be welcomed”.
He added: “My understanding is that examples of youths attending A&E for alcohol and drug issues are coming down long-term. The number of examples is not to be welcomed, but that number has reduced from years previous, which is a good thing.”
The figures, provided to the Tele, reveal that for children aged five to nine, a total of 11 alcohol-related attendances were recorded between 2014 to 2016.
Six of these occurred between 2014 and 2015 and five the following year.
The highest number of alcohol-related A&E admissions was between the ages of 15 and 17, with a total of 282.
Dave Barrie, Dundee service manager for drug and alcohol treatment charity Addaction, described the figures as “concerning”.
He said: “Any young person needing treatment for substance misuse is concerning.
“It shows that there is still a lot of work to do within the communities around the city.
“Drug and alcohol abuse is a serious issue and the safety and wellbeing of our young people is priority number one.”
An NHS Tayside spokeswoman said the health board had implemented a range of measures to offer help and advice to under 18s attending A&E for drug and alcohol misuse.
The spokeswoman added: “Our alcohol liaison teams work closely with many other services.
“We also have a range of information leaflets to allow a young person to make contact.”