Hartlepool mam calls for tougher drug measures at UK festivals
Paula Houghton's son James was just 19 when he died from a drug overdose at Leeds Festival.
A Hartlepool mam is calling for tougher drug measures at UK festivals after losing her son to an overdose.
Paula Houghton's son James died after taking fatal amounts of ecstasy at Leeds Festival in 2013.
The 19-year-old was taken to the site’s medical facility but despite the efforts of medics, James was pronounced dead at the scene.
His mam Paula is now speaking out to urge festival organisers to raise the age limit for tickets and to ensure proper drugs training is given to staff.
It's after two teenagers died at T in the Park last weekend.
Police are not treating the deaths of 17-year-olds Peter McCallum, from Lochgilphead in Argyll, and Megan Bell, from Seaham, as suspicious but at the time said they were looking at the possibility they were drug-related.
In a statement, Miss Bell's family said: We are devastated at the tragic loss of our wonderful daughter Megan.
"Her death leaves an irreplaceable gap in our lives and she will be so sadly missed by all her family and friends.
"We would also like to thank everyone for the overwhelming number of flowers, cards and condolences sent to us as this very sad time.
"We would respectively ask that we are now left alone to come to terms with our grief."
Paula says it's heartbreaking to hear of other teens who've lost their lives to drugs at festivals.
Speaking exclusively to TFM she said:
"A major part of the attraction and the culture of a festival is the easy action to drugs.
"They're too young most of the time to even buy alcohol, but the drug dealers there don't care about their age, they just want the money.
"We're never going to stop drug use, but more education is needed, real education.
"We don't want statistics, we don't want facts, we want to know the reality. They do kill.
"Our kids have to look after one another.
"We have to have some sort of control, especially at festivals.
"Give the volunteers real drug education before they go, so they know what they're looking for and they can try and stop the selling and the taking."