It’s claimed that up to 50 primary school children in Glasgow are abusing heroin, and politicians are now calling for action.

While no figures were available for Dundee or Tayside, anecdotal evidence suggests that alcohol abuse tend to be more prevalent problems for young children locally.

“I would say that Tayside does not suffer from having a population of very young drug users,” said Tayside Police drugs co-ordinator Wendy Symington.

“Most problems caused at the primary seven age group are through alcohol abuse. Having said that, there is a lot of help for parents looking for advice on the dangers of drugs.”

What has been described as a “horrifying case” involving the 11-year-old has led to an investigation being launched by the authorities in Glasgow.

The chair of the Dundee Children’s Panel, Ronnie Keast, said the case should serve as “a reminder of the risks that are out there for children who find it difficult to make the right choices or who have pressure on them.”

He continued, “If there are drugs in society then they are going to access them. It’s really quite scary, but we have to bear in mind that fortunately it is quite unusual.

“In Dundee we see some children who are involved in drug abuse, and also some children who are involved in alcohol abuse.

“We see children who show all sorts of other behaviours, and the reasons behind that are many and varied. If kids have got difficulties in their lives they are more likely to do daft things.

“I think in my experience, and in the experience of most Dundee panel members, a child being involved in any drug use at that age is most unusual.

“It may be that drugs are in the house and a very young child gets access to them, in the same way that they could get access to bleach in the house.

“But for a child of 11 to go out and get drugs, as appears to have happened in the case in Glasgow, would be extremely unusual.”

Mr Keast said his own experience showed that youngsters involved in drugs tended generally to be in their later teens, but even then that is “not a big part” of what they see.

“We are all aware that the difficulties caused by drug abuse for children are increasing, but mainly it’s drugs within the family and the community rather than the kids themselves,” he continued.

The chairman added that the city’s social work department had “very good” projects and programme for young people involved in substance abuse.

As far as prevention is concerned, The Corner at The Shore in Dundee runs a peer education project with two city schools, Morgan and Lawside.

Said Inspector Symington, “Secondary school pupils are trained then deliver the message on various issues, including drugs, to primary children who attend the feeder schools for Morgan and Lawside.”

Throughout Tayside there are structured drugs talks to a cross-section of pupils, with dedicated schools liaison officers operating in Angus and Perth and Kinross.

In Dundee, there is a community drugs education worker who delivers all the drugs talks to secondary schools across Dundee.

“Inputs are also given to young people in education outwith the mainstream schooling programme,” said the inspector. “She also supports the community liaison officers with talks to primary schools where required.”

Members of the community and drug education groups expressed their shock at yesterday’s revelations.

Marguerita O’Neill, a community health worker, said, “I know there are drugs in every scheme, but this is horrifying.”

Scotland Against Drugs director Alistair Ramsay cautioned parents against over-reacting. He said, “If they know their child well, they will spot changes in behaviour very quickly and this will help with an early identification of a problem.”