Kate Shanks put herself through that ordeal this week in support of the combined Northern Constabulary/Crimestoppers campaign aimed at encouraging drug users to inform on their dealers. She was calm, eloqent and told a powerfully tragic story that could happen to any family, anywhere.

Her daughter Suzanne's descent into addiction was a gradual affair which began with her being bullied at school for being muscular. She started taking "speed" to reduce her weight, but that served as an introduction to dealers who, once she has snared, led her onto harder drugs and an unstoppable downward spiral.

Sadly, when at the age of 30 she inadvertently took an overdose of heroin at her flat in Alltan Court, Culloden, in July, she had been drug free for four months and her family had just begun to dare to hope she was emerging from her long nightmare.

It was not to be. But Mrs Shanks believes it is not too late for others if the dealers with a direct financial interest in exploiting vulnerable youngsters like Suzanne can be stopped in their tracks. As we reveal today, detectives believe local criminals are turning to the drugs trade because of the rich pickings to be made and are building links with suppliers in cities such as Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham and London. Illegal substances with a street value of more than £800,000 have already been seized by force this year, but this is only a small proportion of the total amount of drugs coming into the Highlands.

Realistically that flow can be interrupted but not stopped - the potential financial rewards are such that there will always be someone willing to take the risk of selling drugs. Equally, there will always be addicts desperate enough to go to any lengths to get a hit.

But what we as a community can do is make it as difficult as possible for dealers to operate. If they are unable to sell drugs openly, youngsters are less likely to fall victim in the first place. If Suzanne Shanks had not been able to get a hold of that first batch of speed so easily, she might now be a happy, successful young woman instead of another statistic.

It is not just young people who will benefit. Our communities will be safer and the number of crimes committed by addicts needing money to buy drugs will fall.

Mrs Shanks is right. The Ditch the Dealer is a campaign we should all get behind.

Support the troops

THE Black Watch is coming to be regarded as Inverness's local battalion and next week 400 members recently returned from a costly tour in Afghanistan will march through the city.

Today we report where and when they can be seen and hopefully a large crowd will turn out to send the message that their efforts on our behalf are appreciated, no matter what people think of the job they were sent out to do.

It is just unfortunate that Sergeant Stuart "Gus" Millar of Lochardil, who was killed by a rocket propelled grenade while on foot patrol, will not be amongst them.

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