PARENTS: BE AWARE OF WHAT KIDS DOING

Families of Users Fear the Worst

TORONTO PARENTS and the general public have their "collective heads in the
sand" when it comes to cocaine, say people whose children have used the
drug. "People are out of touch," said the mother of Matt, a 19-year-old
former cocaine user who told The Toronto Sun cocaine use was rampant in his
school.

"My kids will talk openly about who is dealing and who is using. I tell
them to tell the police and the police do know. But nothing is done."

Matt's mom said the family lives in an "upper-middle neighbourhood" and the
drug is "very prevalent."

WORRYING SURVEY

According to recent surveys the number of young people who believe cocaine
is a "safe" drug has doubled in the past six years.

Benjamin Reed, whose son is a recovering addict, said the teens he has
spoken with told him the drug is "safer than ecstasy."

Ontario's chief coroner said they couldn't be more wrong.

During the past six years in Toronto -- since Ecstasy became a topic of
heavy media coverage -- cocaine killed 27 people on average while Ecstasy
killed three.