MOTHER RECALLS HORROR OF LOSS

SANDRA HARRIS, of Hamilton Hill, has lost one son to a drug overdose.
Another three have been hooked on various substances.

Her third son was 19 when he died from an overdose four years ago. Her
eldest, 30, has used amphetamines and heroin for 16 years.

"He chooses to and that's where he's at," Ms Harris said.

She said her family became fragmented after her son's death.

A younger daughter and her sons received counselling through a sibling
bereavement group.

"We worked through our grief together as best we could - the first 18
months were horrendous," she said. "I had to find my own support."

Ms Harris, 51, has since become a volunteer worker and helps a parents"drug
information service.

"I spent many, many years beating myself up," she said. "I thought I was in
some way responsible for their drug use but I have stopped blaming myself.
It's a risk-taking type of fun for younger people that can quickly get out
of hand."

Her family had been let down by a lack of resources, she said.

"It's terribly difficult to access services," Ms Harris said. "Detox units
are full and there are just not enough places available. When a person is
motivated, that is the time we need to act."

But she was excited by the announcement of the community drug summit.

"I hope it will offer diversity more than anything and will not just home
in on early intervention but will meet . . . the requirements of all West
Australians," she said. "It's a way of allowing parents and family members
to be able to share our ideas, our emotions, our stories, our desires and
our fears."