Ecstasy death - An innocent life wasted

IN the debate about legalising recreational drugs one of the arguments used is that after legalisation some standards would apply. It should mean people would know what they are consuming and be aware of the risks.

That argument is of little consolation to the family of 17-year-old Jonathan Kiely who, an inquest ruled yesterday, died after he took ecstasy pills. Over a period of five hours he used four-and-a-half pills. He suffered severe brain damage and died, three days later, in hospital.

In a society so damaged by alcohol abuse it may seem sanctimonious to argue against drug use but as the consequences can be so immediate, so terribly unforgiving and fatal, anything else would be foolish.