A POLICE solicitor whose son died of a methadone overdose has urged stronger intervention from Home Secretary Jack Straw in the drugs fight.

Niamh Noone-Astles, of Langho, has been an ardent anti-drugs campaigner since her 16-year-old son Gareth died in 1995.

She has spoken out after Lancashire coroners expressed concern at the amount of legally prescribed methadone, the heroin substitute given to addicts, finding its way on to the illicit market.

The solicitor, who works for Lancashire Constabulary, said: "I was alarmed by the information issued by the coroners.

"However I am more hopeful now that this terrible problem is at last being addressed and hope that Jack Straw takes note of the important issues raised.

"I hope he makes it his number one priority. I believe there should be a Royal Commission to get all the best disciplines together and brainstorm what the problem is and how it should be tackled." Mrs Noone-Astles is a staunch supporter of the Life Education Centres, a Lancashire-based charity which is urging a more direct and long-term approach to solve the problem of drug abuse.

Its chairman, Edwin Jacks, said: "Everyone must be deeply shocked by the coroners' grave concern following their awareness of so many deaths in Lancashire.

"We believe that tragedies could be avoided if we can get the message through to children as early as possible."

The Life Education Centres use mobile classrooms to offer preventive drug abuse programmes for children aged between three and 15 in local schools.

Mr Jacks said the programmes focused on the positive aspects of being alive and related to all forms of drugs, both legal and illegal.

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