Family blames drug taking stars like Amy Winehouse for son's fatal heroin overdose

[Lunar Loops]

Placed this under the heading propoganda as that is undoubtedly and unfortunately what it is. The Daily Mail has its own agenda and it is appalling how it uses the misery and pain of others for its own pathetic middle England ends. Unfortunately, there are people who take this paper seriously. SWILL can say no more. Here is the article (article link):

I blame drug taking stars like Amy Winehouse for my son's fatal heroin overdose

By David Wilkes

Last updated at 11:02 PM on 24th September 2008

The family of a Sea Cadet who died of a heroin overdose has blamed drug-abusing celebrities for setting a bad example.

Christopher Preece, 18, overdosed when he injected himself in what was possibly his first experience with the Class A drug, an inquest heard.

His grandfather Keith Preece said: 'Young people see the likes of Amy Winehouse taking drugs and think they'll do it too and it'll be okay, but that's far from the case.'

There has been growing controversy over the number of celebrities escaping charges despite appearing to use illegal substances.

Miss Winehouse's descent into addiction has prompted her father to say he wishes she could be locked up for her own good.

But even when video footage emerged showing the singer smoking what appeared to be crack, it was not enough for her to be charged.

Kate Moss was also caught on film snorting line after line of what looked like cocaine.

But the matter was eventually dropped by police through lack of evidence.

Last weekend it was revealed that George Michael received only a caution after he was arrested in a public toilet for possessing crack and cannabis.

The inquest heard that Mr Preece had been playing computer games with two friends on the night he took heroin at his flat in Didcot, Oxfordshire, in March last year.

The next morning his friends found him sprawled on the bathroom floor, still breathing, but they could not revive him. They did not call an ambulance until 6.30pm.

Paramedics tried to resuscitate him, but it was too late.

Yesterday his mother Emma, 37, said: 'The kids were all too afraid to call an ambulance for fear of getting a slapped wrist, but that would have been so much better than this.'
She said of drug-taking celebrities: 'It makes it harder to get through to kids that it's not a good life.

'It's a culture we are seeing every day in the media and it's becoming a way of life. It's the authorities that need to do something in these situations.'
Retired engineer Mr Preece, 65, said his grandson was 'gifted at everything he put his mind to', excelling as a cadet, musician and chef.

He had been recognised for outstanding service to the cadet movement and was appointed a Lord Lieutenant Cadet at 16.
Oxfordshire coroner Nicholas Gardiner recorded an accident verdict at the hearing on Tuesday.

Martin Barnes of drug information charity DrugScope, said: 'While celebrities should be sensitive to the impact they may have, we should not underestimate the ability of young people to reach informed decisions about drugs.'

In law, proof of possession requires a substance to be found on an individual and for the substance to be proved to contain a banned ingredient.

Reputation Comments on this post:

	nice juxtaposition of news sources/opinions
	Correct classification of newspapers.