And they are asking others who may be connected with those using or dealing Drugs to join the cause.

Keighley Families Against Drugs (K-FAD) was set up in June after five young people died in drugs-related incidents within a period of eight weeks.

Now it is asking the public to show their support by attending a meeting in the Swire Smith Hall at Keighley College on Wednesday at 7.30pm.

A spokesman for K-FAD - one of four members who have attended a Parents Against Drugs course - says: "We are all families of drug users and we feel there is a need for people to meet up and talk about their problems away from the family home.

"As a support group we are there for each other with help, support and understanding, all with strict confidentiality, either on a one-to-one basis or as a group discussion."

K-FAD feels there is an overwhelming need for an action group.

They now want the different communities to join forces and help stamp out the rising drug problem in Keighley.

The group will tell Wednesday's meeting that they would like to set up a 24-hour helpline, a detoxification centre, a halfway house and a countryside treatment centre.

Keighley MP Ann Cryer is to attend the meeting. The police and members of the town's Drug and Alcohol Reference Group (DARG) have also been invited, and letters have gone out to the town's doctors and chemists.

"We have invited people from across the board and we are hoping as many turn up as possible," added the spokesman.

Keighley police Inspector Mick Hopwood says the force welcomes any initiatives to tackle the drugs problem, and confirmed they would be attending Wednes-day's meeting.

"We are supportive of any ideas that raise awareness, profile, and the danger of drugs," he said. "Through the police and members of DARG we will be looking to meet with K-FAD."

He added that tackling drugs was a matter for the whole community, and he would welcome people getting involved.

Malcolm Hoddy, Keighley News editor and Chairman of Keighley DARG says: "There is a great movement underway in Keighley to tackle this issue. By working together we will, as the slogan says, crack the problem."

One of the parents involved with K-FAD first told the Keighley News of her plight in September 1996.

She told us that one day she had to come to terms with the fact that her daughter was hooked on heroin. "You just never believe it is going to be one of your children," she said.

She had to confront her child and tell her she knew what she was doing.

"She had changed from a bubbly character into someone that was agressive and paranoid. Her appearance changed. She came out in spots and wore glasses that hid her 'pinned' eyes."

She said that, as a mother, she had never had help.

"Those dependent on drugs get help but parents and friends are left out in the cold," she claimed at the time. "There needs to be someone to contact outside the times that the various agencies are open."

She added: "People think they know what you are going through, but they will never know until they have been there themselves. They don't know what it's like to be told your child was close to death on five occasions during the night."

After spending time in a rehabilitation centre, the girl has now made a complete recovery.

It is estimated that currently the ambulance service is being called out on average five times a week to deal with a young person suffering from a drug overdose. They are taken to a special ward at Airedale Hospital.

K-FAD meets every Monday at the Woman's Centre, 182 Skipton Road, Keighley, from 7.30-9.30pm.

It can be contacted on 633551/667510/215711.

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