Father calls for detox centre for generation ‘poisoned by drugs’
A desperate father has called for a detox centre for young people here, before a new generation is ‘poisoned with drugs.’
The man, who did not wish to be named for fear over his own safety, has a 19-year-old son who is hooked on Lyrica.
He agreed for the purposes of our Save The Next One campaign, to be called John.
His son has progressed over the last four years into a dependency on Lyrica, having also tried cocaine, ‘blues’ and other prescription medications.
John became emotional when trying to explain how it had come to this point:
"As a parent, you're meant to be there to protect your child but I can't really see a way you can do it," he said.
He said the matter had taken its toll on his family and on his own mental well-being:
"Sometimes I feel like killing...myself.
"I'm wondering if I failed him in any way... what we could have done to change it, to make it better.
John was inspired to get in touch after hearing the stories of other parents facing the same crisis, from our Save The Next One campaign.
He has joined those calling for a detox centre specifically for young people here.
Otherwise, he can only see the problem getting worse and said it is this generation's version of the Troubles.
"I know how they feel because I haven't lost him yet but it feels like I have lost him.
"They tell you the war's over but it's not because all they're doing is feeding our young ones drugs and it's just getting out of control.
"The young ones are just getting sold every prescription drug under the sun, they don't know what they're taking.
"And that's why I think, especially in Belfast, there's that many young people, taking their own lives...because they're just totally out of it.
"We need somewhere we can take our young ones to try and get them off this because I can't see any way out unless we do get our own centre like the rest of the UK."