BABIES addicted to heroin have been born on the Isle of Wight.

Fourteen-year-olds are also smoking the deadly drug.

The shocking picture of drug use among young people on the Island emerged at a meeting of the council's Fire and Public Safety Committee.

Kim Brown, drug action team co-ordinator for the Island, told members that 165 people were currently in treatment on the Island for addiction to the drug.

But because of the nature of drug addiction, there were potentially many more addicts which the team had not identified.

She said: "Some years ago, the average age range of drug users was about 30. Now we are seeing a much lower average age range of about 20. We have

14-year-old heroin users. We have babies who are being born addicts."

Members heard how drug treatment and testing orders imposed by magistrates cost around £6,000 for each addict.

But it was still to be worked out how much it costs to treat heroin- addicted babies.

Councillor Arthur Taylor said: "I would imagine this is just the tip of the iceberg. We do not have any idea of the amount of substance misuse on the Island.

"We do not have a clue how many people are using."