THE grieving mum of a Wearside man who died of a drug overdose today called for more help to stop young people following the same tragic path. Cath Wareing's son David Pace, 26, died in April this year following a heroin overdose. He had intermittently took Valium, cocaine and crack cocaine. Although his family insist David, who was dad to Josie, three, wasn't an addict, they believe he and many other people in the situation he found himself in need support quicker to stop their lives being wasted. [continues 480 words]
A SENIOR officer has won praise for claiming hard drugs should be legalised. Durham Police's Chief Constable Mike Barton said the war on narcotics had failed, and decriminalisation was the best way to bring down criminal gangs profiting from drugs. Writing in The Observer, the national intelligence leader for the Association of Chief Police Officers also said addicts should be able to obtain class- A drugs such as heroin and cocaine through the NHS. "Not all crime gangs raise income through selling drugs, but most of them do in my experience," said Mr Barton. "So offering an alternative route of supply to users cuts off the gang's income stream. [continues 85 words]
A devoted dad is today behind bars after turning to dodgy drug dealing loansharks to borrow money for his family holiday. James Rawlings, who had been made redundant, took a UKP1,000 loan from gangsters so he could buy a car after the lift to a family break for him, his partner and two young children fell through. But Newcastle Crown Court heard when the 33-year-old had trouble meeting the payments, he was ordered to safehouse more than six kilos of cannabis to settle the debt. [continues 274 words]
Drugs worth almost ?15million have been removed from the streets of Sunderland over the last year. A crackdown on dealers meant a massive increase in the amount of drugs seized. Less than ?1.2million-worth had been recovered the previous year. Raids across Wearside in 2008 raked in nearly 9,000 cannabis plants, 187kgs of amphetamine, 6.84kgs of cocaine, 1.25kgs of heroin and 420kgs of cannabis resin. Police chiefs hailed the force's operations as a major success in tackling drugs offences, and the knock-on effect it has had on other crimes related to illegal substances. [continues 501 words]
Youth workers believe they have seen a surge in the number of young people smoking cannabis on our streets in recent months. Seaham Youth Initiative's workers take to the streets to speak to young people and offer them support. They say although alcohol is still the most abused substance among the 11 to 25-year-olds they speak to, staff have become aware of an increase in the number of those using the drug. The organisation say it is aware of children as young as 12 taking it, with the substance sometimes mixed with drink. [continues 426 words]
A woman whose life has been turned upside down by her grandson's cannabis addiction backs the Government's U-turn on the drug's classification. She told Jessica Forster about the family's hell. Gordon Brown has reclassified cannabis to Class B despite recommendations from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) to leave it as a class C. The Prime Minister acted on his party's concerns about widespread use and the impact on mental health of stronger "skunk" varieties. [continues 911 words]
Nine pupils have been found with cannabis in schools across Sunderland in the last three years. Figures obtained by the Echo under the Freedom of Information Act show that youngsters aged between 13 and 16 have been caught in schools across Wearside with "small amounts" of cannabis on them. Sunderland City Council and Sunderland Police said the pupils were dealt with and work is continuing to stamp out drugs in schools. Chief Superintendent Dave Pryer said Neighbourhood Policing Teams work closely with schools on issues like drugs, with some teams based in the schools. [continues 356 words]
Babies born to drug addicts are having to spend the first weeks of their lives going cold turkey. The problem of newborn drug addicts is growing, with Sunderland Royal Hospital having to treat more than one youngster a week in the neonatal unit. Babies have to be put on the same withdrawal programme used for addicts. They are given morphine to calm them down, and to help gradually wean them off the substances they were used to getting when they were in the womb. [continues 330 words]
CHILDREN as young as 11 have been receiving treatment for heroin addiction in our region, it was revealed today. New figures obtained by the Yorkshire Evening Post show that a total of 34 under-16s in Yorkshire and Humberside were given help for problems with the class-A drug between April and December last year. Although most of those in rehab were aged 15, four 14-year-olds, three 13-year-olds, four 12-year-olds and one 11-year-old were among those treated. [continues 293 words]
Hundreds of Wearside children are being referred for help due to concerns about drug and alcohol misuse. Figures released to the Echo reveal boys and girls, under the age of 14, are receiving support or testing for cannabis, booze and solvent issues. Sunderland Youth Drug and Alcohol Service had 142 referrals made to them regarding under 18s with alcohol-related problems during a 12-month period. While, according to statistics obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, 182 were made for drug concerns, including one under 14-year-old supported for multi-drug use. According to Alcohol Concern, the quantity of booze consumed by 11 to 15-year-olds in the area has more than doubled in the past 10 years. [continues 916 words]
A GROUP of schoolchildren have been suspended after being caught smoking cannabis during their lunch break. Staff at Monkwearmouth School were tipped-off that students, believed to be aged 15 and 16, had been taking drugs in nearby Seaburn dene. One parent suggested up to 11 youngsters had been excluded after the incident, but the school dismissed this, adding that disciplinary action had been taken "against a small number of pupils." School headteacher Phil Marshall said she had to balance punishment and help for the youngsters who have all been hit with fixed-term exclusions. [continues 377 words]
A HEARTBROKEN businessman pleaded with a judge to show mercy on his thieving, drug addict son who he admitted was "a blight on the community". Paul Donaldson, who runs an aircraft refurbishment company, vowed to rid son Terry of his deadly heroin habit and even give him a job at the successful family business. The 46-year-old took the stand at Newcastle Crown Court yesterday after Terry, 23, admitted a string of thefts across the city and in South Shields. [continues 381 words]
