A mother-of-three is fighting to save the support group she formed after discovering her son was a heroin addict.

It is racing against time to raise cash to keep it going when its Home Office funding runs out in March.

Christine Woodley said: "We've applied for funding to trusts and local businesses. I am going to make sure the group does not close.''

Christine's life was turned upside down when her 19-year-old son broke the news of his addiction.

The 50-year-old, of Rastrick, who also has two grown-up daughters and two grandchildren, said: "I was absolutely devastated when he told me in March last year.

"At first I didn't believe him. I thought he was trying it on. Then I felt shock, shame and guilt because I thought it was my fault.

"My son came to me for help because he owed quite a lot of money to some drug dealers and he wanted to come off heroin.

"He told me had taken cannabis when he was 11 and tried all sorts of other Drugs, including speed and ecstasy.''

Her son then sought help from the Halifax-based anti-drugs agency Dashline but there was more trauma in store for his mother who had him arrested for stealing around £400 from her. He was taken to court and fined £100, ordered to pay his mother £25 compensation and pay £42 court costs.

She also revealed he had overdosed twice and made two suicide attempts.

Her harrowing experiences led her to set up Brighouse Parents and Relatives Support Group (Drugs) in September last year.

She received a £1,500 start up grant from the Home Office-backed Drugs Prevention Initiative and a further £2,300 which runs out in March.

Christine, who fields the calls, said: "I knew nothing about drugs when my son told he was a heroin addict. I wish I knew then what I know now, even things such as what drugs look like and their effects.

"Parents with children on drugs just want to speak to somebody who knows what they are going through.''

The group, based at Brighouse town hall, runs one-to-one advice sessions, weekly meetings and a helpline which has to date been contacted by more than 300 families from across the country.

It also produces information leaflets on drug abuse for schools and colleges and Christine gives talks in schools about being the parent of a drug user.

If you want to help financially, or if you need help, the support group can be contacted on (01484) 722223.

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