A HOSPITAL consultant has spoken out about a "worrying" increase in emergency hospital admissions for children as young as 12 who have taken recreational drugs.

Andy Simpson, the man in charge of Accident and Emergency at the University Hospital of North Tees in Stockton, said ten 12 to 16-year-olds were admitted to the hospital at the weekend, three on Friday and seven in the early hours of Saturday morning.

He said the teenagers had taken drugs cocktails at a party in the Thornaby and had taken gabapentin, an anti-epilepsy drug, and amitriptyline, an anti-depressant. Some of the youngsters said they had taken diazepam and cocaine.

He said: “We've seen a worrying number of young people between the ages of 12 and 16 in the department in the last few days suffering from the effects of taking recreational drugs.

"The main drugs young people coming in tell us they've taken in varying amounts are gabapentin, amitriptyline, diazepam and cocaine. While these are prescription drugs they are drugs of abuse in the wrong hands and one is Class A drug. The drugs are also very likely to have been mixed with other harmful substances.

"These drugs can lead to serious breathing difficulties and can lead to people needing to be ventilated. As an Accident and Emergency doctor I have also seen deaths from young people taking amitriptyline.

"While taking these drugs can be seen as a bit of fun, it is definitely not that in my view.

"We are appealing to younger people, please do not take these drugs. They can make you seriously ill or even kill you. It's just not worth taking the risk."