Dying to get high - ecstasy deaths soar in North West

A grieving father is calling for the drugs that killed his boys to be legalised.

Ray Lakeman from Port St Mary on the Isle of Man lost both his sons on the same night after they took ecstasy.

He believes if drugs were legalised and regulated, other lives could be saved.

In the fourth and final of our special reports, our correspondent Mel Barham investigates whether it really is time to legalise?

A father from the Isle of Man wants ecstasy legalised, despite the fact that it killed both of his sons.

Torin and Jacques Lakeman both died on the same night after taking the drug.

Their father Ray says if the drug were legalised and regulated, lives could be saved.

Ecstasy deaths are at a ten-year high in the North West.

As part of our special series investigating ecstasy use in the North West, we look at if drugs education is working.

The number of deaths linked to ecstasy in the North West is at a ten-year high. Granada Reports has undertaken a special investigation into why so many people are dying to get high and what can be done to reduce this problem.

In Liverpool, children as young as six are being taught about the dangers of drugs.

Teachers at Blackmore Park Infant School in Merseyside feel that drug awareness should start young.

And though children aren't taught about class A drugs, teacher Clare Pedersen says staff feel that what they learn now could prevent problems later.

As the Christmas party season gets into full swing , there's a warning that anyone taking drugs like ecstasy are effectively playing Russian roulette with their lives.

The message comes from a mother from Liverpool, Hilary Bass, whose son Gary died four years ago after taking what he thought was an ecstasy pill, but turned out to be a much more powerful drug.

Our correspondent Mel Barham has been investigating just how dangerous drugs like ecstasy are and asks is it worth the risk?

Ecstasy deaths in the North West are at a ten-year high.

While many have campaigned against the drug, there are those who think it should be legalised.

What do you think? Vote in our poll below.