GRIEVING MOM ON DRUG CRUSADE

Son Dies After Swallowing Cocaine To Save His Friend From Trouble With Police

Cheryl Hollock knew her son Danny prided himself on his loyalty to his
friends, but she never imagined he would swallow a fatal amount of cocaine
to keep a buddy out of trouble.

Wanting to make sure her 20-year-old son's death was not in vain, Hollock
wrote about the circumstances of his death, asking her brother to read it
aloud at his funeral.

She is also speaking about it publicly, warning parents and young people.

"If just one parent and child is helped by this, it will be worth it," said
Hollock. "I never in a million years knew the extent of the drug problem in
Amherstburg. You always want to believe that living in a small town and
being a middle-class family makes you immune. It does not."

Hollock's husband discovered their son's lifeless body in his bed in the
early hours of Oct. 6, not more than four hours from the time he arrived
home, changed into his pyjama bottoms and crawled into bed.

The night before, Danny was out with two friends in Amherstburg. One was
celebrating his 21st birthday. During the evening, they picked up three
grams of cocaine.

With the drug in their possession, the friends were stopped by police.
Fearing that his friend who was driving would get in serious trouble,
because of a court condition not to be around drugs or alcohol, Danny
swallowed the cocaine.

"One of his friends said he couldn't believe what Danny did and was
surprised that the police did not find the empty bag in the truck," said
Hollock.

"The driver was taken to jail overnight and Danny and his other friend were
sent home in a taxi. A neighbour said he thought Danny arrived home about
3:30 a.m."

Hollock said when she was getting out of the shower around 4:45 a.m., she
thought she heard sounds coming through his locked door.

"I called to him to wake up because it was like he was having a bad dream,"
said Hollock.

"What?" was all she heard him say. Her younger son said he would get his
brother up later, and she left the house around 7 a.m.

"The friend who was in jail called and told my son to wake Danny up, but
didn't say why. I called at 7:30 a.m. to say that Danny had to go to school
but my son said he had not been able to get a response," Hollock said.

"My husband arrived home from work soon after and used the credit card to
get into Danny's room. He said even before he went in, he knew somehow
Danny was dead. He was just lying there, under the covers, like he was asleep."

When the friend he'd protected was told about Danny's death, he volunteered
a statement to police, describing what had happened the previous night.

"He was devastated, as were all the kids who came to the funeral and who
have since come to talk to me," said Hollock. "Many of them have told me
horrifying stories about the drug problems and I've learned a few things I
want to pass on to parents, along with a warning for the kids."

Hollock said parents have to get over the notion that checking their
children's room is violating their privacy. It may not be right to read
private journals and papers, but checking for drugs is about keeping a
child safe.

"We can't turn a blind eye, or half-listen to what they're saying. Listen
to what they answer when you ask if they're having a problem with drugs or
alcohol," said Hollock. "If you don't get a direct answer, keep asking."

Places to look for drugs, said Hollock, include between mattresses, taped
under drawers, behind ceiling tiles and light switches, in the toes of
shoes in closets, in sleeping bags and comforters, in stuffed animals and
in register grates, a favourite hiding spot.

Hollock misses her son; misses his arms around her, telling her "Mom you
have to chill," or jotting rap lyrics on pieces of paper all over their
house. She misses the dream of all mothers ? watching a child outlive them.

"If only young people didn't think they're invincable. If only they would
stop and think," said Hollock. "It's every parent's nightmare and it can
happen to anyone."