WHAT terrible, terrible pictures on Page 3. We are sorry if they have upset anyone.

But this is real life. Horrible, grubby, real life.

You could look the other way and pretend it doesn't exist. But if you do that, it won't go away. In fact, untreated, the cancer of drugs will spread, infecting and destroying the promise of many more young lives.

Or you can face up to the reality. Accept that, even within our own nice, cosy communities, this does go on.

And then you can do something about it.

You could question the politicians on your doorstep about how they are going to tackle the problem - how many rehabilitation places are they really going to provide?

More pertinently, you could use the pictures as a starting point for a discussion with your children or grandchildren. No hectoring. No lectures. Just a casual "did you see those pictures in the paper...?".

Coming face to face with the shocking truth will do the rest.

John Courtney's family, already facing the distress of losing their son, have bravely released the pictures.

His mother, Angie, said: "It is killing us looking at these pictures, but we know we have to give them to the Press. If we can save just one life by showing everyone how John ended up, then it is worth it."

They have done a great service.