Drugs death woman's mother makes public appeal

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Kate Shanks said her daughter started drugs at school and ended up dead

The mother of a woman who died of a suspected heroin overdose has appealed to the public to help police catch drug dealers.

Kate Shanks, of Elgin, lost her daughter Suzanne earlier this year. The 30-year-old was found dead in her flat in Culloden by her father Gordon.

Mrs Shanks spoke out to add weight to efforts by Northern Constabulary and Crimestoppers Scotland.

She said: "Drugs only lead to misery and heartache."

Northern Constabulary have previously warned that Inverness's expansion as a city had made it and the surrounding area a target for drug gangs.

I would encourage people to report anyone they suspect someone may be dealing or using drugs Kate Shanks

The force is promoting Crimestopper's Ditch a Dealer campaign.

Last month, a study by the University of Glasgow suggested the number of injecting drug users in Scotland was continuing to increase.

The researchers estimated that in 2006, 23,933 people in Scotland were injecting drugs representing about a 30% rise on estimates for 2003.

Mrs Shanks said in total there were about 55,000 drug addicts in Scotland.

Suzanne Shanks became an addict when she was teenager

She said: "I would encourage people to report anyone they suspect may be dealing or using drugs.

"There are a number of reasons why people take drugs, but in the case of youngsters it is usually peer pressure. Suzanne was only 18 or 19 when she became a full blown addict, having experimented with other drugs prior to that.

"I would like to say to all youngsters - drugs only lead to misery and heartache and no one wants to end up like Suzanne or put their family through the torment we have gone through."

In the summer, drug users, their families and friends were offered training in spotting signs of an overdose in a bid to cut drug-related deaths in the Highlands.

NHS Highland, which was leading the pilot project, said at the time that six people who abused illegal substances had died in the area since January.

Training covered calling the emergency services and basic first aid.

Naloxone, an antidote to drugs including heroin, was also made available.