Help us stop drugs, addicts' families told (From Free Press Series)

Help us stop drugs, addicts' families told

FAMILIES of heroin and crack cocaine addicts in Caldicot are being asked to join local police and politicians to wage a new war on drugs in the town.

The new Caldicot Against Drugs campaign will be discussed at a town council meeting on Wednesday, when councillors hope "the first positive moves against the increasing problems of hard drugs in Caldicot" can be made.

Independent town and county councillor James Harris said: "Caldicot is on the crack-cocaine corridor into Wales, and we also have a problem with heroin addiction. There is no point in burying our heads in the sand.

"The previous council talked about it but did not do anything. There are new councillors doing new thinking now."

Councillor Harris said a number of Caldicot people were active in a Blaina-based group for families of drug abusers, but now there was impetus to form a more local partnership - and Caldicot Police Inspector Bob Price had pledged his support for the campaign.

Councillor Harris, who hopes to get the Welsh Development Agency and anti-drugs group Kaleidoscope on board, said: "We aim to get concerned people and groups together to do whatever we can.

"Early ideas include 'No Dope' signs put up at entrances into Caldicot, which have worked well in New York City, increase education and awareness in schools and promote the successful Argus 'Shop A Dealer' and Gwent Police 'Rat On A Rat' campaigns.

"We have talked to heroin addicts and we want their families to help us understand why people take drugs and what we can do to get abusers off that negative cycle."

Councillor Harris said he believed Caldicot may never be totally rid of drugs, but it was important to show the community had a strong, active stance against drugs.

Inspector Price said: "We at Caldicot are committed to combating drugs, so if this new campaign helps us enforce the law in targeted hotspots while encouraging abusers to get on to referral programmes, then it is a very positive step.

"By using the families of abusers, who can no doubt provide invaluable insight and intelligence, you are showing willing to make use of every resource available."