IT TAKES COURAGE

Teenagers Nicolas and Julian Borello and their parents have lived -
and escaped from - a nightmare. As recounted by reporter Sue
Montgomery in a Gazette series this week, the two boys sank into
addiction to crack cocaine. With tears and will power and help from
the Portage rehabilitation centre, the boys got the monkey off their
backs. They are now living, as all recovering addicts must, one day
at a time in the world of clean and sober.

Remarkably, the family had enough courage not only to tackle their
problem, but to share the story with Gazette readers. Not many other
young people, or parents, would be so willing to bare the details
such an emotionally and physically gruelling process to the public.

We hope that the family's generosity of spirit will serve a purpose:
it's good for everyone in society to know that such problems exist,
that treatment is possible and help available, and that this help
comes from the people and institutions of a social-services network.
That network is often a low societal priority for funding and
attention, but it becomes a very high priority indeed when there are
young lives that need turning around.

On behalf of all our readers, we thank Nicolas and Julian and their
parents - and the people at Portage.

The series of stories is still available on our website,
www.montrealgazette.com