A Monthly Publication

By John P Crofts

 Sadly the taking of drugs is no respector of the best of families and it is for this reason that Glebe House School has invited Jonnie Leach to come and give a presentation to parents and grandparents and carers on drug awareness at 7.30pm on Friday 29th January and we would like to extend that invitation to anyone in Hunstanton and the surrounding area. Tickets will be needed, but they are free and application details are to be found at the end of this article.

Jonnie Leach, having seemingly been given every opportunity to thrive in society - coming from a functional family, receiving a privileged education and having a successful career - became a drug addict. His story, told from the heart, describes his life and experiences, highlighting early significant addictive behaviour and initial drug experimentation in his teens whilst still at school.

Interspersed with facts and figures on drugs and their effects, the criminal implications of drug use, the health aspects and the often devastating long term consequences, his talk goes on to describe his gradual decline into addiction, his years as an addict and the turning point, when he was given less than six months to live.

In Jonnie’s own words on why you should attend this talk:

‘FACT: Over 90% of your children would rather risk death than come to you for help over drugs!

When I have addressed parents at a school's invitation, I generally find the attendance relatively poor. The reason: "drugs are not an issue to us; our children don't 'do' drugs". This is borne out by the parents who do attend, out of curiosity, of course, not out of need! When I ask "How many of you believe your child has experimented with drugs?", the response has never been more than 5%.

In the past nine years I have addressed some thirty thousand pupils, parents and staff in over two hundred and fifty schools. During the course of my presentations I ask pupils about their experiences with drugs and the realities of drugs in today’s society. In general the answers I've received correspond to National statistics (source: Health Education Authority) which reveal that, by the time they reach eighteen years of age, over 50% of young people will have experimented with some form of illicit drug; the latest research showing that around 25% of under eighteens use cannabis on a regular basis.

During my presentations I ask pupils the following question: "Suppose that, during the holidays, you were at home with a few friends listening to music in your room and decided to experiment with, say, ecstasy. If one of you became violently ill as a result, would you go downstairs and tell your parents what you had done, and ask for their help?" A staggering 95% say no!

I then say: "But you would go to hospital to seek medical attention, wouldn't you?.” Over 75% say that they wouldn't because the hospital would tell their parents or inform the police! The fact that the majority of deaths caused by recreational drug use could be avoided if medical attention were sought makes this an exceptionally worrying response, which is why I provide pupils with potentially life saving information, by dispelling these myths.

However, it would be so much better if your children felt able to ask for help from the people who care the most; their parents. This presentation will open your eyes to reality, and hopefully enable you to rationally discuss a traditionally taboo topic which will affect most of your children at some stage of their lives.

Please do contact me if you would like to attend by emailing me : CLOAKING or phoning Sara Garry on 01485 532809.