Police and parents were called to Glasgow Academy after teachers discovered cocaine in the bag of a five-year-old student a few weeks ago. The school, which charges up to £16,660 per year, is one of Scotland's most prestigious private institutions. The incident has left the local community shaken.
Investigation and Reactions
A source close to the investigation expressed relief that the child did not accidentally consume or share the substance: 'We dread to think what might have happened had the child accidentally tasted the substance or even shared it with others. The outcome could have been devastating. We all hope the school board and management team are taking the matter seriously.'
Annemarie Ward, an addiction recovery employee at charity FAVOR UK, told The Scottish Mail the incident should serve as a 'wake-up call'. 'For too long, cocaine has enjoyed a strange social respectability in Britain. People who would never dream of injecting heroin or smoking crack think nothing of taking cocaine at weekends and dinner parties,' she said. 'Somewhere along the way, we stopped treating it as a dangerous drug and started treating it as a lifestyle accessory.'
School's Response
A spokesperson for Glasgow Academy stated: 'We do not comment on matters relating to individual children, in order to protect their privacy and welfare. Where any concern is raised, we act on it promptly and work closely with families and the relevant authorities to keep every child in our care safe.'
Broader Context
In 2021, a nine-year-old boy was arrested and accused of being 'Britain's youngest crack-cocaine dealer'. The primary school student was picked up for possession of the Class A drug with the intent to supply but was not charged due to being under the age of criminal responsibility. Experts suggested the child likely was made to deliver the drugs for an older relative.
Ward added: 'A five-year-old child should never be carrying cocaine into a classroom. If that image does not make us question our relationship with drugs as a society, it is hard to know what will.'
