Ms Gwen McKenna:

Families are devastated when anything like this happens to their kids. They do not know what to do and they do not have a path. I was glad to hear a representative of the Tabor Group say that we need a roadmap for families that is easy to negotiate because they are completely stressed out. One can imagine what it is like when they see their children with known drug dealers and they do not know what to look for or what way to go. We parent the best way that we can, but without information or education we do not know for sure what we are doing and so it comes back in on top of us. We do not have the strength, energy or anything else to be able to go and deal with it. When families come through the door to us, they are broken. The ones that can make it through the door are magnificent. We hold them, support them and listen to what is happening for them. We are experts through experience and we can hear where they are coming from. They begin to build up strength and courage within themselves and they become a resource in their community for themselves.