YOU SCOTS CARE. DON'T LOSE THAT OR YOU'LL END UP LIKE ENGLAND COMMENTARY

The father of ecstasy victim Leah speaks out after the death of Perth
18-year-old Julia Dawes

WHENEVER another young person dies through drug misuse or abuse, especially
ecstasy, I am normally contacted for my comments and am usually told: "Your
drug awareness isn't working, is it?" My reply to that is generally along
the lines of: "It is in Scotland."

Let me introduce myself. I'm Paul Betts and I live in Essex. Some of you may
remember my daughter, Leah, who died in November 1995 after taking an
ecstasy tablet at her 18th birthday party in our house.

The shock and horror of it just happening to a "normal" child struck the
hearts of many a parent who were then brought into the 1990s with a bump and
started to realise just how prevalent drug misuse and abuse really is.

Since that fateful day the lives of Jan and myself have changed
dramatically. We have started a helpline called Leah Betts Helpline, Action
for Drugs Awareness. We also go all over the country giving talks to both
school children and parents.

Since startlng we have spoken to some 100,000 children and 10,000 parents,
including many talks in Scotland. So I feel I'm in a position to make some
sweeping statements. One is that whenever I finish a talk I always say how
jealous I am of the Scottish people. Let me explain.

If I'm to give a talk in England, the people are so lethargic that a school
would be lucky if 50 parents turned up at a drugs awareness evening.

The usual excuse is that they know their children and they don't use drugs
or there are no drugs in the area. I think to myself, where are these people
coming from? Yet, when a similar evening is put on in Scotland it is usually
fully attended.

You Scots have still got this wonderful "community spirit".

You care, You are concerned not only about yourselves but also your
community. Please don't lose that or you will end up like so much of
England. They don't even know their neighhour.

The second thing is that you are prepared to listen and try something. That
is why your drug problem in Scotland is actually declining. You are not
afraid to tell the truth and to make it well and truly known.

Here in England it is talked about, then a meeting is held to discuss the
previous meeting and then another meeting to discuss the previous two
with-out a single action being taken. Let me give you an example.

Jan and I knew through various contacts, over nine months ago, that heroin
would sweep the streets at ridiculously low prices. The prime aim of the
dealer was to get as many young people hooked in as short a tine as possible
and then to raise the price of heroin back to about A340 or A350 a bag.

When we informed the powers that be in England, we were basically laughed at
and patronised. Nothing was done. Yet when we gave the same information to
you it was acted upon. Schools being informed, police and so on.

Yesterday, 3 August, I saw on teletext that the Government is now concerned
about the great rise in heroin use and the unscrupulous dealing of the drug
pushers to get people hooked. This came from a Home Office survey.

I wonder just how many thousands of pounds was spent on that, yet the answer
was already known to those who work in the field.

You also still hold on to religious values. That means so much. Even tough
you may belong to different orders we all worship the same God. This shows
itself in so many young people. Again, don't let that go.

When we have gone to your schools to give talks it never ceases to amaze me
at the politeness of all the children that we have met.

I have been as far north as Caithness and Thurso, west to the Isle of Skye
and then to Fort William, Oban, Renfrew, Inverness and Mallaig. Even when
the children are walking down the streets I do not hear a f*** or c*** from
any of them.

Yes they are noisy, all kids are, but they still have got respect and
politeness which can only have been passed on from their parents or
teachers. Well done, perhaps you can teach some of our kids manners.

The schools take drug misuse and abuse seriously. They actually arrange
their day to suit us so that we have time to talk to the young people and
answer questions, sometimes up to three hours.

In England, we have to fit in with the school and we get a maximum of about
40 minutes. That lets them tick their box, "Drug awareness given."

Finally, I would like to praise your judiciary, You are not afraid to pass
sentence or hand out a heavy fine if someone has committed an offence.

I have lost heart here in England. Life has been put on the lower shelf and
property taken to the top. If a person steals then they may get imprisonment
or a fine. If a person commits an assault then, they are likely to get
probatton or caution. Why?

My family fell in love so much with your part of the world and the people
themselves that we were hopIng to move to the Isle of Skye. Unfortunately,
your laws are different to ours and we lost both places.

That, I think, shows just what an impact you all have had on us and I thank
you for it.

Please keep and protect your family values, religious beliefs and community
spirit. With those you can achieve anything. If you don't believe that, just
take a look south of the Border.

Checked-by: Melodi Cornett