MAYOR'S `LEADERSHIP' IN DRUGS WAR IS PRAISED

THE Mayor of Ballymena was today hailed for stepping in to help
parents of heroin addicts deal with their problems.

James Currie met with the mothers and fathers of drug users
face-to-face to hear their harrowing stories.

In a behind-closed-doors meeting, the Mayor joined the parents at one
of the regular meetings of the drugs counselling group Together.

Mr Currie said he was moved by the experience.

He added he was prepared to organise meetings involving the parents
and statutory bodies.

Mr Currie said although Ballymena Council had no statutory
responsibility in the field of drugs, he accepted it did have a
"moral" responsibility to help tackle the town's biggest social problem.

Mr Currie attended the meeting after being invited by the parents,
some of whom thought the council wasn't doing enough.

"They (now) realise we are doing all we can do," he
explained.

The Mayor said he now planned to use his influence to help advance the
services provided in Ballymena to tackle drugs.

One parent involved with Together hailed that pledge.

"No one in this town is immune from drugs," the parent
said.

"Up until now we have felt alone in this with the feeling that the
council and others were ignoring us and hoping that the problem would
just go away.

"Some people seem to be concerned about the publicity the heroin
problem is generating but the only way to stop that is to clear the
problem up. It is good that the Mayor has shown leadership."