Parents' Assn backs teen's drugs death as school case study
Posted Thu Nov 6, 2008 11:23am AEDT
The Queensland Council of Parents and Citizens Associations (QCPCA) has supported the coroner's calls for the death of a Townsville teenager to be used as a case study in schools.
Melanie Boyd, 16, died two years ago after consuming a cocktail of prescription drugs and alcohol at a party.
Handing down his findings in Townsville in north Queensland, coroner Brian Smith found that the teenager had choked on her vomit after swallowing a mixture of prescription drugs and alcohol.
He also found that despite two other girls suffering fits, it was 'unbelievable' no-one called an ambulance.
The teenager died in the early hours of the morning.
QCPCA state president Margaret Black says she can understand why the coroner wants students to learn from the tragedy.
"If it could save another life it would have to be a good thing, we would support it being used in schools as long as it was used carefully," she said.
"Obviously teachers would do that - they're not silly - they don't allow children to get over stressed, so it's got to be a good thing."
Ms Boyd's father, Laurie Boyd, says he can never forgive the older girls who should have known better.
"A lot of people say you've got to move on from this and that's incorrect," he said.
"I can't find it my heart, at this time, to even think about forgiving them.
"I can't understand what she did."