What you can do to help

AFUNERAL director has revealed the anguish of families left behind after a loved one is lost to a cocaine overdose.

Paul Barton, of Barton and Hallworth Funeral Service in Oswaldtwistle, told the Observer he has carried out funerals for three young people in Hyndburn who have died after overdosing on the drug in recent years.

The 42-year-old, who is a former councillor and Mayor of Hyndburn, said that of the hundreds of funerals he has con-

Educate yourself and others – National organisations such as Frank offer detailed explanations of what the short-term and longterm effects of drug use are and the risks.

Talk openly about it – Speak to friends and family and create an honest dialogue about drug use.

Spot signs of use ducted, these drug deaths stand out because of the acute shock and suffering – Cocaine can change people’s personality. In the short term cocaine can make a user feel confident and wide awake. But repeated use can cause agitated behaviour, mood swings, severe addiction and heart attacks.

Offer support – If you are concerned someone you know is taking cocaine, offer support or of their family members, who often turn to him seeking answers he can- encourage them to get help.

Seek help and advice – Confidential 24-hour chatlines and local services are open for anyone with concerns.

Alert police – if you suspect someone might be dealing drugs, tell police on 101 or anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. not give. He said: “It’s seeing the family’s anguish, it’s such a shock to them when this happens.

“It’s even harder when it happens so suddenly and I think people don’t realise taking this stuff, taking cocaine, it can kill you very quickly. They don’t realise how serious it is.

“From my experience these funerals are different because there are so many questions for the families.

“They don’t know how to deal with their suffering because they can’t understand why it has happened over some-