Posts Tagged ‘overdose’
Kate Shanks: “Drugs only lead to misery and heartache”
The Highland Capital of Inverness is seeing its unfair share of drug activity and as I took part in a multi agency briefing at Police Headquarters I could not help but be moved by the story of Kate Shanks who lost her Daughter Suzanne through addiction to drugs.
Families are being devastated through their children becoming addicted to drugs and the anguish this causes not only for the person who becomes addicted but also the family is truly tragic. For the sake of our communities I would urge that every member of the public be more aware and contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where they can report all drug dealing in total confidence without giving away any personal details.
Our communities must take a stand and support the Police in bringing these evil drug dealers to justice but the Courts and the Criminal Justice System must ensure these people are removed from the streets of Scotland and no longer threaten our families and young people and take a harder stance as far as drug dealing is concerned.
Jim Ferguson
BBC NEWS
Mother’s plea over drug dealers
The mother of a woman who died of a suspected heroin overdose has appealed to the public to help police catch drug dealers.
Kate Shanks, of Elgin, lost her daughter Suzanne earlier this year. The 30-year-old was found dead in her flat in Culloden by her father Gordon.
Mrs Shanks spoke out to add weight to efforts by Northern Constabulary and Crimestoppers Scotland.
She said: “Drugs only lead to misery and heartache.”
Northern Constabulary have previously warned that Inverness’s expansion as a city had made it and the surrounding area a target for drug gangs.
“ I would encourage people to report anyone they suspect someone may be dealing or using drugs ”
Kate Shanks
The force is promoting Crimestopper’s Ditch a Dealer campaign.
Last month, a study by the University of Glasgow suggested the number of injecting drug users in Scotland was continuing to increase.
The researchers estimated that in 2006, 23,933 people in Scotland were injecting drugs representing about a 30% rise on estimates for 2003.
Mrs Shanks said in total there were about 55,000 drug addicts in Scotland.
She said: “I would encourage people to report anyone they suspect may be dealing or using drugs.
“There are a number of reasons why people take drugs, but in the case of youngsters it is usually peer pressure. Suzanne was only 18 or 19 when she became a full blown addict, having experimented with other drugs prior to that.
“I would like to say to all youngsters – drugs only lead to misery and heartache and no one wants to end up like Suzanne or put their family through the torment we have gone through.”
In the summer, drug users, their families and friends were offered training in spotting signs of an overdose in a bid to cut drug-related deaths in the Highlands.
NHS Highland, which was leading the pilot project, said at the time that six people who abused illegal substances had died in the area since January.
Training covered calling the emergency services and basic first aid.
Naloxone, an antidote to drugs including heroin, was also made available.
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