DISENCHANTED BETTS FAMILY LOOKS FOR NEW HOME IN SCOTLAND

Ecstasy campaigners tell of theit dismay after Perth teenager loses her
fight for life

THE father of Leah Betts, the 18-year-old who died after taking an ecstasy
tablet in 1995, said yesterday he planned to move his family from England to
Scotland because of stronger community ties which provided a better
foundation for combating drug problems.

Paul Betts said he had been impressed at the positive reception he had
received at a series of school talks he had given in Scotiand, after being
largely ignored in his native Essex.

His daughter died four days after lapsing into a coma after taking an
ecstasy tablet at her 18th birthday party in 1995.

Mr Betts, 52, a former policeman, said: "You still believe in the extended
family and have got very strong community spirit in Scotland. People also
still hold religious values, and this all helps to combat drug problems."

He said reaction to the dozens of talks he had given to parents and children
in Scotland with his wife, Jan, a nurse who advises young poople on the
dangers of drugs, had contrasted starkly with England.

Mr Betts said the couple had only been asked to speak in Essex twice, with
some people dismissing him as a self-publicist who liked to see himself on
television.

He said: "In England, people are so bloody reserved, no-one wants to know
unless you have a PhD. In Scotland, you listen to people and then form your
own opinions. I was told that Scots vote with their feet, and if they do not
feel the issue is important they will stay away or leave early."

However, in Wick, he said a talk had continued for two and- a-half hours and
the numbers attending had increased during the evening.

He said: "That shows how important it was to the community. People went away
and talked to their kids, and felt better for it."

Mr Betts said a father in Fort William had thanked him for saving his son.
He said the youngster had been anxious to talk to him about his drugs habit
for ages, but had felt unable to do so until Mr Betts gave a talk in the town.

Mr Betts said he had fallen in love with Skye during the latest series of
talks there last month. He said his family were now looking to move from
their home in Maldon.

The Betts set up a helpline and formed Action for Drugs Awareness following
Leah's death.

Mr Betts said ecstasy deaths were now such a common occurrence that most
only received a passing reference in the media. "The big problem is that we
have only scratched the surface in getting information to young people and
their parents.

"There are certain groups of people who think they are immune to the drugs
problem, either because of their wealth or geographical position or the jobs
they do.

"They seem to think there is a shroud preventing them from being affected,
so a lot of them do not find out about drugs and talk to their children
about it.

"We have been accused of scaremongering, and it appears in some cases that
officialdom wants to cover np the problem."

Checked-by: Melodi Cornett