“We need to get the message across about the dangers of experimenting with a massively addictive drug like cocaine,” said the Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary.

Commenting on today’s figures from the National Treatment Agency which reveal the number of children being treated for cocaine addiction has increased by 50% in three years, Norman Lamb said:

“There is a real problem with young people receiving mixed messages because of the alleged glamour associated with drugs like cocaine.

“We need to get the message across about the dangers of experimenting with a massively addictive drug like cocaine.

“The Government has been obsessed with trying to look tough on drugs while slashing funding for information services and refusing to listen to scientific opinion.  Ministers must do a lot more to make people aware of the serious damage that drug use can do to your long-term health.”