Hospital admissions for heroin and cocaine overdoses have more than doubled in Glasgow in just four years, according to official figures.

As part of a week-long look at the drugs problem in the city, the Evening Times obtained exclusive details of people taken to hospitals with overdoses of a range of drugs since 2006.

It shows a rise for the most serious Class A drugs including heroin, cocaine, methadone and morphine and codeine.

Heroin showed the biggest rise, of more than 100%, with 70 people receiving treatment in 2009/10 compared to just 27 in 2006/06.

Cocaine overdoses almost doubled from 21 to 39 over the same period.

Earlier this week we reported how the city’s cocaine problem was growing and the full extend was unknown.

The biggest number of admissions were for morphine and codeine overdoses, which jumped form 254 to 350, while admissions for the heroin substitute methadone increased from 16 to 26.

Yesterday, we reported how one in four 15-year-olds had tried drugs and even more had been offered illegal substances.

Figures showing the number of under 18s treated for abusing drugs have also been obtained, showing children as young as 11 hospitalised for overdoses.

Two 11-year-olds were treated in the last four years, one for stimulants and one for solvents.

A total of 22 15-year-olds were taken to hospital, however, the biggest problem was among 16 and 17-year-olds.

In the last year 23 under 18s were admitted to hospital with drug issues.

Ten were aged 16, nine aged 17, two aged 15 and one 14-year-old, were treated.

Children’s charity Barnardo’s has been working extensively with drug and alcohol abusers for around a year.

Helen Jones, the charity’s Children’s Service manager, said sometimes it is a one-off.

She said: “When they are admitted to hospital it could be a first time experiment gone wrong.

“Early intervention warning of the dangers they are exposing themselves to can sometimes be enough.

“The family usually don’t know at this stage and their intervention can help prevent things going further.”

Ms Jones said in most cases where a problem is already developed there is an underlying cause of substance misuse among children.

She said: “It can be trauma, like loss, or mental health issues.

“There can be parental substance misuse. In these cases we can’t work with the young person on their own, we need to look at the whole family set up.”

Barnardo’s became involved in dealing with substance abuse after finding it was often linked to other problems faced by young people.

Ms Jones added: “We are seeing a reduction in abuse among those we deal with, but it is early days.

“It is part of a range of difficulties young people face. We had been working with offending behaviour and often it goes hand in hand [with drugs] and so it needs to be addressed.”

As well as the hospital admissions, the number of drug related deaths has increased over the last decade.

The latest report into drug related deaths for the Greater Glasgow Health Board area, showed 197 people died in 2008, with the majority of cases involving heroin or morphine.

Methadone and Diazepam are also implicated in a high number of deaths.

A long term analysis of drugs deaths across Scotland showed Glasgow to have the highest number.

Between 2000 and 2007 there were 2,893 deaths. The four postcode areas in Scotland with the highest number, where in the city.

The Greater Springburn area G21 was the highest with 67, it was followed by G33, including Easterhouse, with 54 and Maryhill, G20, and Parkhead, G32, with more than 50 deaths in the period.

Glasgow piloted a programme to help save lives, with a drug which can reverse the effects of a heroin overdose and buy time until emergency services can arrive.

Naloxone was trialled in Glasgow after a Scottish Government programme with other agencies including the Scottish Drugs Forum (SDF).

A SDF spokeswoman, said: “Drug-related deaths in Scotland have been increasing steadily over the past 10 years and the 2008 figure – 574 – was the highest on record.

“The Naloxone programme is one of the innovative approaches to reduce the number of deaths among heroin users and in Scotland already it’s been used over 50 times.

“If people are to have a chance of recovering from a heroin problem, the first priority is to stay alive, and that’s what this project aims to help them do.”

Health officials also staged a one-day awareness programme in Glasgow this week to give information to drug addicts on how to avoid overdose.