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Churches link up to curb drugs menace
By Stephen Lisle South Wales Evening Post - February 2004
FOUR churches in Swansea are joining forces to tackle the devastating
effects of drugs in their community.
Church members in West Cross have linked up to address the problems
they say are breaking families apart and fuelling crime across the
city.
Representatives from Bethany Baptist Church, the Anglican parish
of Llwynderw, Linden Christian Centre and West Cross Community Church
have invited West Glamorgan Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse to
give a talk in the area this week.
The event is intended to act as a signpost to direct families hit
by drug problems to agencies that can help them.
One of the event organisers, Biddy Wigley, from Mayals, said: "The
social problems from drugs are enormous and there are many tragic
stories in the area.
''Drugs have ruined families and ruined lives. It's a breakdown
of family life and of trust. But I don't think West Cross is worse
than anywhere else in the city.
"I know these youngsters often feel they have to resort to
crime. They literally destroy themselves."
"We are trying to help people to identify problems, perhaps
when their children are in the early stages of temptation when help
and support can make all the difference. "We are telling the
community that the church is here, it's alive and it's concerned
about people."
WGCADA chief executive Norman Preddy will give the talk entitled
Spotting the Signs, Knowing the Dangers, at the Oasis centre in
West Cross Lane at 7.30pm on Thursday. Mr Preddy said: "If
you went back 10 or 15 years you could pick out certain areas but
now there's no class distinction in drugs and alcohol. "West
Cross is no different from any other area of the city. We work with
all types of agencies, including churches, and I think it's a good
idea that they are getting together."
Police community drugs liaison officer Alan Murphy said: "Substance
misuse has no social or economic barriers in Swansea. There's no
one area that is prevalent. "By bringing in WGCADA they will
benefit from their considerable experience in the field."
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