Mum Can You Lend Me Twenty Quid?: What drugs did to my family - Softcover

Elizabeth Burton Phillips

4.04

443 ratings by Goodreads

9780749951726: Mum Can You Lend Me Twenty Quid?: What drugs did to my family

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0749951729 ISBN 13: 9780749951726

Publisher: Piatkus Books, 2008

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Elizabeth Burton Phillips is a teacher, an ordinary middle-class mother who had always tried to do the best for her children; she never imagined that her identical twin sons, who had been doing so well at school, would become involved in drugs. She was shocked when they were suspended from school for smoking cannabis; but this was just the start of a terrible, unimaginable journey - culminating in the knock on the door in the early hours by the police. They gave her the devastating news that her son Nick had killed himself in despair at his heroin addiction.Since his death, Elizabeth has campaigned tirelessly to make parents aware of the pain and suffering caused to families by drug addiction; and her surviving twin, Simon, now drug-free, has contributed his own thoughts to this inspiring and moving book.

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Review:

the most frightening, truthful, courageous account of a middle-class family's descent into hell (Judith Woods The Daily Telegraph)

It reinforces the message that I have had to learn the hard way, namely that sometimes, in order to help your loved ones, you have to sever your links with them (Mrs Moneypenny, FT Magazine)

I would urge all parents, teachers and pupils to read this heart-rending book (Anthony Seldon, Headmaster, Wellington College)

A moving, frightening story (Belfast Telegraph)

a book that is moving and ultimately, inspiring (Waterstones Books Quarterly)

From the Publisher:

Since the death of her son, Elizabeth had been invited to
speak at many venues all over the country on the drugs issue. She is now a
member of the Federation of Drug and Alcohol Professionals, a trained
volunteer for her support group `Crack it!' and also a Spokesperson for
Families for Frank, the National Drugs Helpline and Information Service.
She hopes that her book will serve as a warning to all parents, to all
children and their families.
Drugs can and do kill.

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