Brit kids as young as 10 being treated for cocaine addiction

London, December 24 (ANI): Children as young as ten are getting addicted to cocaine, according to reports.

In the last three years, there has been 65 percent increase in the number of kids trying to get rid of the drug in England.

According to the National Treatment Agency, more than 746 under-18s were nursed through their dependancy on the Class A drug this year, which is higher than 453 in 2005/6.

The toll included 169 teens aged 14 to 16 and fourteen aged 12 to 14.

"We are concerned. We would like more funding for treating these kids," the Sun quoted Elliot Elam, of drug and alcohol treatment group Addaction, as saying.

Also, Lib Dem health spokesman Norman Lamb warned: "We need to get the message across about the dangers of experimenting with a massively addictive drug like cocaine.

"Ministers must do a lot more to make people aware of the serious damage drug use can do to long-term health."

However, the NTA acknowledged a fall in the number of teenagers treated for stronger crack cocaine and heroin.

The toll last year was 657 compared to 1,081 in 2005/6.

Rosanna O'Connor, of the NTA, said the figures suggested the heroin "epidemic" had reached pinnacle. (ANI)