BBC News - Drugs revelation as town targets 'troubled' families
A mother is said to have given her 13-year-old daughter three ecstasy tablets as a birthday present, the BBC learned.
Middlesbrough mayor Ray Mallon highlighted the case when speaking to Look North about hundreds of troubled families being supported on Teesside.
The investigation also found Middlesbrough Council was spending £600,000 per year on a family with six children in care.
Children should be targeted "in the womb" to stop problems, Mr Mallon said.
He said that children were being let down by parents who abused alcohol and drugs.
"There was one where a mother gave a 13-year-old child some ecstasy tablets, hard drugs, for her birthday," the mayor said. "I just despair."
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Troubled families
The government defines troubled families as those that meet specific criteria in the following areas:
Under 18s involved in crime and/or family member involved in anti-social behaviour
Child excluded from school or is a regular truant
An adult on benefits
Where families meet two of the criteria but are "a cause for concern", councils can rule that other factors - including health problems - mean they are troubled families
Source: Department for Communities and Local Government
The BBC was told that a troubled family with six children under the age of 13 was costing Middlesbrough Council more than £600,000 per year.
Quote:
A mother is said to have given her 13-year-old daughter three ecstasy tablets as a birthday present, the BBC learned.
Middlesbrough mayor Ray Mallon highlighted the case when speaking to Look North about hundreds of troubled families being supported on Teesside.
The investigation also found Middlesbrough Council was spending £600,000 per year on a family with six children in care.
Children should be targeted "in the womb" to stop problems, Mr Mallon said.
He said that children were being let down by parents who abused alcohol and drugs.
"There was one where a mother gave a 13-year-old child some ecstasy tablets, hard drugs, for her birthday," the mayor said. "I just despair."
Continue reading the main story
Troubled families
The government defines troubled families as those that meet specific criteria in the following areas:
Under 18s involved in crime and/or family member involved in anti-social behaviour
Child excluded from school or is a regular truant
An adult on benefits
Where families meet two of the criteria but are "a cause for concern", councils can rule that other factors - including health problems - mean they are troubled families
Source: Department for Communities and Local Government
The BBC was told that a troubled family with six children under the age of 13 was costing Middlesbrough Council more than £600,000 per year.