'Addicts best placed to deliver message'

Education is the key to preventing under-age drinking, claims one former alcoholic who first hit the bottle aged 15.

Jon, of Bewbush, represents addicts at Crawley's Drug Advice Centre, Addaction.

He spoke out as staff from Addaction spoke to magistrates from the town about their programme for alcoholics and drug addicts last week.

Jon explained: "I am not surprised alcohol is such a big problem for youngsters. I think it is more of an issue than drugs. You've only got to look at A&E on a Friday night. There are not many drug addicts in there.

"The youngsters need education from someone who has been through the system and say 'I was like you at 15'.

"It's human nature to try things, but if people are aware where it can lead they would be more careful.

"When you are 15 it's all a bit of a laugh. You are in a rush to grow up."

Jon, 38, hit his lowest point when he blacked out and woke up in his own vomit having soiled himself.

"I didn't know where I was. I used to drink half a bottle of Bacardi and 12 cans of Grolsh. You can't sustain that for long.

"I was told by an Outreach worker that if I carried on I would not be alive in a year."

Addaction operates two free services in Crawley, needle exchange and a day programme run by experienced trained sub-stance misuse workers in confidence. There are interpreters for all sections of the community.

ic SurreyOnline ~ Nov 23 2005