EXPERTS in East Lancashire have called for more to be done to educate youngsters about the effects of drugs following the death of a 16-year-old girl who took a cocktail of substances.

Former Darwen Vale High School pupil Sky Nicol collapsed at a friend’s house in March after taking a mixture of cocaine, ecstasy and heroin and later died at Royal Blackburn Hospital.

In the wake of Sky’s death, Lucy Hardwick, manager at Accrington charity Maundy Relief, said that young people need to be more aware of the risks they are taking.

She said: “There are many drugs that young people think are OK to take but we must teach them that this is not the case. The effects of cannabis and marijuana are plain to see. People are prone to serious mental-health issues after taking these drugs, issues such as schizophrenia and anxiety.

“There are some great programmes about and I think in some schools good work is being done to teach young people about drugs. But we hear a lot of tragic stories like Sky’s and I think there is no doubt that there are major issues with what were once legal highs.

“So more does need to be done to ensure youngsters know what risks they are taking and I would also urge people to get in touch with an organisation straight away if they are worried about anyone misusing drugs, because sometimes it is the people you do not expect who are struggling and we need to reach out to them.”

A post-mortem examination discovered that Sky, of Laurel Avenue, Darwen, had five times the fatal level of ecstasy in her bloodstream as well as traces of heroin and cocaine.

Blackburn with Darwen Integrated Drug & Alcohol Treatment Service said it will continue to strive for change in drugs education in the light of Sky’s death.

A service spokesman said: “We believe that the more young people, adults, parents and carers know, the more likely they are to ask our services for help and support which is based on evidence, experience and lessons learned.”

EXPERTS in East Lancashire have called for more to be done to educate youngsters about the effects of drugs following the death of a 16-year-old girl who took a ‘cocktail’ of substances.

Former Darwen Vale High School pupil Sky Nicol collapsed at a friend’s house in March after taking a mixture of cocaine, ecstasy and heroin and later died at Royal Blackburn Hospital.

In the wake of her death, Lucy Hardwick, manager at Accrington charity Maundy Relief, said that young people need to be more aware of the risks they are taking.

She said: “There are many drugs that young people think are okay to take but we must teach them that this is not the case.

“The effects of cannabis and marijuana are plain to see, people are prone to serious mental health issues after taking these drugs such as schizophrenia and anxiety.

“There are some great programmes about and I think in some schools good work is being done to teach young people about drugs.

“But we do hear a lot of tragic stories like Sky’s and I think there is no doubt that there are major issues with what were once legal highs.

“So more does need to be done to ensure youngsters know what risks they are taking and I would also urge people to get in touch with an organisation straight away if they are worried about anyone misusing drugs, because sometimes its the people you don’t expect who are struggling and we need to reach out to them.”

A post-mortem examination discovered that Sky, of Laurel Avenue, Darwen, had five times the fatal level of ecstasy in her bloodstream as well as traces of heroin and cocaine.

Blackburn with Darwen Integrated Drug and Alcohol Treatment Services said that they would continue to strive for change in drugs education in the light of Sky’s death.

A spokeswoman for the service said: “Blackburn with Darwen Council and local substance misuse services Inspire and Go2 are committed to pro-actively tackling all areas of concern regarding substance misuse across the borough.

“Our services offer support where and when it is needed, utilising community venues to support those that need help and guidance.

“We believe that the more young people, adults, parents and carers know the more likely they are to ask our services for help and support which is based on evidence, experience and lessons learnt.”