SAD PARENTS' PLEA FOR ADDICTS

A heroin victim's parents have told of the jail fears that stopped
them calling police when their son took an overdose.

Rod and Tricia Bertram believed if they called police and their son
Ken was found alive but with heroin he could face jail.

Ken, 26, became the state's 202nd heroin victim for 1999 when police
found him dead in his Moorabbin flat late last Monday night.

Mr and Mrs Bertram have called for the decriminalisation of heroin use
to save the lives of other addicts like Ken.

During Ken's eight-year war with drugs, his parents resisted seeking
help from authorities for fear he would be punished.

"The only reason we kept quiet about Ken's drug problem was because we
didn't want Ken to go to jail," Mrs Bertram said.

"If heroin had have been decriminalised we would have gone out there
then when he was still alive and there was still a chance to save him,
and spoken out about it."

Mrs Bertram said her unanswered calls to her son's flat all day last
Monday told her Ken was dead from an overdose.

The Highett couple have spoken publicly about Ken's death through the
Herald Sun to urge the government to decriminalise heroin use and
allow safe injecting rooms.

"I have this real need for Ken's life not to be wasted," Mrs Bertram
said. "We can't save Ken's life but we want to do all we can to
contribute to saving the lives of other young people."

Ken worked as a graphic designer for his parents' project management
business. Talented in art and music, he was studying computer
animation and had started his own business.

He financed his on-and-off drug habit through his wages and by hocking
his possessions with a pawnbroker.

Eight years ago Mr and Mrs Bertram believed a loving home and good
upbringing would prevent a child turning to drugs.

and never would it happen to my child," Mrs Bertram
said.

"Ken Was Loved Immeasurably."

The couple believe drug dealers are the criminals, not the
addicts.

"To decriminalise it will give addicts and their families more of a
sense of safety in asking for help," Mrs Bertram said. "I do believe
that if it's decriminalised not as many other young people will die."

Mr and Mrs Bertram believe Ken set out to take his own life but at the
last moment changed his mind and tried to reach his mobile phone to
call for help.

"He died on his hands and knees with his last ounce of strength he was
stilltrying and still fighting," Mrs Bertram said.

Ken told his parents of his drug addiction just before his 21st
birthday.

"He sat at the dining room table, he rolled up his sleeves and his
arms were covered with track marks and he said "Mum, Dad, can you help
me?" Mrs Bertram said.

The couple urge other parents with children who are addicts to speak
honestly, treat the addiction as an illness not a crime and offer love
and support. "I sort of thought it happened to kids who weren't loved
and weren't looked after