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The UK has one of the biggest drug problems in Europe - read about one mother's extraordinary fight to keep her twin sons alive
Teacher Elizabeth Burton-Philips led an ordinary middle-class life until she discovered something which would change her life forever.
Her twin sons were addicted to heroin and soon resorted to lying, stealing and drug dealing in order to fund their terrible habit.
Now after losing a son she has a warning to all parents facing this heartbreaking situation. But how did it start?
The beginning of the end
Unbeknown to their parents, by the age of 13 Nick and Simon were experimenting with cannabis and smoking with friends in parks and fields near their home.
In 1991 Elizabeth was offered a post as a teacher and senior housemistress at a prestigious school, for girls, in Bath.
She believes that accepting the job was the trigger for a series of terrible events that was soon to follow.
By 16 the boys had fallen in with the wrong crowd and were smoking increasing amounts of cannabis as well as taking ecstasy and speed.
Despite this the boys managed to achieve good results in their GCSE's and went onto to A-levels at Sixth Form.
In 1995 the twins moved into a flat together in Bath and both got jobs. Nick was training as an assistant bar manager and Simon worked as an estate agent.
It wasn't until one weekend when the twins saw their friends experimenting with joints of heroin that they decided to try it. This was the beginning of the end.
Realisation dawns
The moment Elizabeth did find out about Simon's addiction was a harrowing one.
It was the Summer of 2000 and Simon confessed: 'Mum, I'm a heroin addict.'
All the signs suddenly made sense. The constant lending of money and gaunt appearance.
Elizabeth didn't find out that Nick was also an addict until three years later (2003). Nick also followed Simon's example by injecting heroin too.
By this time the boys were living as hopeless 'giro' junkies - getting their giro cheque's and spending it on drugs.
Elizabeth decided to cut off all contact with the boys. When she told their father about their habit he cut off all contact with the boys.
A devastating outcome
Twelve months later Elizabeth got a call that every parent dreads. In a drugs fuelled row with Simon Nick stormed off threatening to kill himself.
The next morning Simon found Nick dead - he had hung himself.
At the time both Nick and Simon were staying in a hostel for addicts but had been smoking heroin at a friend's house.
Simon had lost his soulmate and brother at the tender age of 27.
A new hope
Since Nick's death Simon has not used heroin.
He got himself into rehab and has been clean for three years.
Elizabeth and Simon have set up a voluntary organisation called the Nick Mills Foundation.
It is to help the friends and family of those who are abusing substances. It is in the process of being a registered charity.
To find out more about the foundation, click here
Mum, Can You Lend Me Twenty Quid? will be out this Thursday 24th May 2007.
