Letter to the Lords and MP's
Hello, my name is Karen Audino,
I am writing to you with regards to lobbying Parliament about a change in the law to "Legal highs".
My son Jimmy died after consuming one of these product in October 2013 he was just 20 years old, Jimmy was fit and healthy young man, he loved sports and was into fitness. On the 2nd of October 13 he took a bus into Chatham in Kent and went to one of the head shops there, it was only by chance he discovered the shop there the previous week while out shopping with his dad.... Jimmy was staying in Gravesend with his dad at the time and Gravesend has a head shop that jimmy hadn't discovered so he wasn't out to source these products.
Jimmy returned to his dads apartment and took one of the two baggies he had purchased this caused Jimmy's blood pressure to rise so severely that it lead to a massive heart attack. Jimmy was alone at this time and we don't know how long he was unconscious for when his father returned home and found him the paramedics were called and Jimmy was revived but due to his unconscious state his brain began to swell causing a bleed to the brain, on admission to hospital a brain scan was done Jimmy was again unconscious this was never regained and the scan showed the swelling had caused the brain stem to be crushed rendering him brain dead.
I live in Co Donegal Ireland and received a phone call at work to advise me of the situation . my eldest daughter and I immediately left for England which was an 18 hour journey by boat as I have no valid passport, we arrived at Darenth valley hospital Kent at 8 pm on the 3rd of October, where I had to make a decision no parent should have to make and that was the decision to turn off my son's life support machine . Jimmy passed away in my arms at 11.18 on the 3rd of October 2013.
I should be organizing his 21st, he had definite ideas of what he wanted for his 21st a casino themed night as these were discussed on my visit over to him just 4 weeks previous but instead I find myself trying to bring about what I am terming "Jimmy's Law" a law that makes all "legal highs " illegal as these products are not tested and are clearly dangerous . These products are banned from sale here in Ireland after a young man dying from them.
I don't understand how something that can be purchased in a shop , a product that is easily accessible due to the low cost, a product that is deemed safe by youngsters because it is legal and not being brought from a dealer in some dark ally, a product that is marked with "not for human consumption" a product that has not been tested and can vary in ingredients according to what manufacturing house it has been made in, can be sold openly. The retailers are not acting responsibly and even offer advise on how best to take these product, they state they are not for human consumption but sell them along side all the paraphernalia that enables people to consume them. I want the law changed so these shops and their associated websites are no longer allowed to sell products that harm and kill, Jimmy is not the only one who has fallen foul to these products as each week yet more cases arise.
I will not allow my son to be nothing more than a statistic or a number his life was worth so much more than that, as it is I do not know what particular product it was that he took as there was no name on the bag, that in itself is very hard for me to deal with .
I therefore ask you to back me in my cause for Jimmy's Law to come into effect, and for you to bring my sons story to the attention of The House of Lords
With the kindest of regards
Yours sincerely
Karen Audino
Hello, my name is Karen Audino,
I am writing to you with regards to lobbying Parliament about a change in the law to "Legal highs".
My son Jimmy died after consuming one of these product in October 2013 he was just 20 years old, Jimmy was fit and healthy young man, he loved sports and was into fitness. On the 2nd of October 13 he took a bus into Chatham in Kent and went to one of the head shops there, it was only by chance he discovered the shop there the previous week while out shopping with his dad.... Jimmy was staying in Gravesend with his dad at the time and Gravesend has a head shop that jimmy hadn't discovered so he wasn't out to source these products.
Jimmy returned to his dads apartment and took one of the two baggies he had purchased this caused Jimmy's blood pressure to rise so severely that it lead to a massive heart attack. Jimmy was alone at this time and we don't know how long he was unconscious for when his father returned home and found him the paramedics were called and Jimmy was revived but due to his unconscious state his brain began to swell causing a bleed to the brain, on admission to hospital a brain scan was done Jimmy was again unconscious this was never regained and the scan showed the swelling had caused the brain stem to be crushed rendering him brain dead.
I live in Co Donegal Ireland and received a phone call at work to advise me of the situation . my eldest daughter and I immediately left for England which was an 18 hour journey by boat as I have no valid passport, we arrived at Darenth valley hospital Kent at 8 pm on the 3rd of October, where I had to make a decision no parent should have to make and that was the decision to turn off my son's life support machine . Jimmy passed away in my arms at 11.18 on the 3rd of October 2013.
I should be organizing his 21st, he had definite ideas of what he wanted for his 21st a casino themed night as these were discussed on my visit over to him just 4 weeks previous but instead I find myself trying to bring about what I am terming "Jimmy's Law" a law that makes all "legal highs " illegal as these products are not tested and are clearly dangerous . These products are banned from sale here in Ireland after a young man dying from them.
I don't understand how something that can be purchased in a shop , a product that is easily accessible due to the low cost, a product that is deemed safe by youngsters because it is legal and not being brought from a dealer in some dark ally, a product that is marked with "not for human consumption" a product that has not been tested and can vary in ingredients according to what manufacturing house it has been made in, can be sold openly. The retailers are not acting responsibly and even offer advise on how best to take these product, they state they are not for human consumption but sell them along side all the paraphernalia that enables people to consume them. I want the law changed so these shops and their associated websites are no longer allowed to sell products that harm and kill, Jimmy is not the only one who has fallen foul to these products as each week yet more cases arise.
I will not allow my son to be nothing more than a statistic or a number his life was worth so much more than that, as it is I do not know what particular product it was that he took as there was no name on the bag, that in itself is very hard for me to deal with .
I therefore ask you to back me in my cause for Jimmy's Law to come into effect, and for you to bring my sons story to the attention of The House of Lords
With the kindest of regards
Yours sincerely
Karen Audino