THE number of young people treated for misusing the drug Xanax has risen by over 500 per cent in a year, according to Public Health England.

A reports shows that in 2016, 161 kids under the age of 18 accessed public treatment services for benzodiazepine misuse. This almost doubled in 2017 to 315 young people requiring help.

Even more worryingly, Xanax was the benzodiazepine which saw the biggest increase, rising by 560 per cent from just eight children needing treatment in 2016 to 53 in 2017.

Dr. Durrani, group psychiatrist at addiction treatment specialists UKAT, has warned of the medical dangers of early misuse of benzodiazepines.

"Benzodiazepines work by literally slowing down the function of the brain. When taken, they enhance the actions of a chemical in the brain known as GABA, acting as a leveller in times of high stress, over-excitement or anxiety. When GABA levels are artificially increased by Benzos, serious side effects can occur, including slurring words or even total blackouts," he said.

"Unfortunately, at UKAT, we're seeing more and more young people admitting themselves after becoming addicted to Benzos. In most cases, their misuse stemmed from using the drug recreationally at parties and mixing it with alcohol, which proves a toxic combination."

Last month, it was reported that several teenagers in Upton had to be treated after misusing Xanax.

Officers are warning young people in the Poole and Purbeck areas after incidents in Upton in recent weeks.

Xanax, which is the brand name for the drug alprazolam, is a powerful and addictive drug that is used in some parts of the world to treat anxiety; however, it is not available in the UK and is classified as a Class C drug.

Police carried out warrants at three addresses in the Upton area as part of efforts to disrupt the suspected supply of illegal drugs.