editorial comment Who wants milk after 10PM anyway??? Now, if drugs were more available than milk at 9h30AM, that would be something to talk about :)

A South Antrim UPRG (Ulster Political Research Group) representative claimed this week that it was 'easier to get drugs than a pint of milk after 10pm in Antrim'.

Darran Smyth made the startling claim as he recalled painful personal experiences to issue a heartfelt plea for parents to 'wise up' to the perils posed by drugs.

The Antrim council candidate made no secret of the fact that he once revelled in the town's thriving drugs scene, but he bravely called on others not to follow his self-destructive example - even if the admission that he once 'dabbled' hurts his chances at the polls.

The police have enjoyed significant success in their war against the illegal trade, and their tenacity has certainly curtailed the levels of open-air street dealing which became a feature of life in Antrim in the early 1990s.

But while the narcotics underworld has been effectively pushed underground, Mr Smyth is adamant that drugs are still readily available - and he fears that pushers are still actively targeting vulnerable teens.

"After 10 o'clock at night it's easier to get drugs in this town than a pint of milk.

"I take absolutely no pride in that, but it's a fact - and any parents who think otherwise are deluding themselves," he said.

"Of course I commend the PSNI for the inroads they have made, but the reality is that as long as there are vast amounts of money to be made the dealers will continue to pump this trash out on to our streets."

"The problem is that drugs in this town are now seen as something of a fashion statement among young people."

"There is a dangerous fascination with the whole scene and young people seeking some sort of buzz are being drawn in."

"Unfortunately the parents haven't a clue what their kids are getting themselves into - until it's too late."

"I know my mother wasn't aware of my problem, because many of the tell-tale signs are so similar to what you would expect from any moody teenager."

The UPRG man first took drugs when he was 15, and it was to have a devastating effect on his personal life.

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