How did Leah Betts' parents respond to her death?

Leah's parents, Paul and Janet Betts, decided to release a harrowing image of Leah in the hospital to the public, hoping to warn other families about the dangers of recreational drug use.

What was the impact of Leah Betts' death on drug policies in the UK?

Leah's tragic death sparked a national debate on drugs and led to improved governmental policies around drug testing and contamination. The Betts family also visited around 2,500 schools to share Leah's story and raise awareness.

Home / Health / Leah Betts' Ecstasy Death Sparks National Reckoning on Drugs 30 Years Later

Leah Betts' Ecstasy Death Sparks National Reckoning on Drugs 30 Years Later

Q: What happened to Leah Betts on her 18th birthday?

Leah Betts, a teenager from Essex, UK, tragically died four days after taking an ecstasy pill at her 18th birthday party in 1995.

16 Nov

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Summary

Leah Betts died 4 days after taking ecstasy at her 18th birthday party in 1995
Her parents released a harrowing image of her in a coma, shocking the nation
Their campaigning led to better drug policies and awareness in the UK

Leah Betts' Ecstasy Death Sparks National Reckoning on Drugs 30 Years Later

In November 1995, 18-year-old Leah Betts tragically died four days after taking an ecstasy pill at her birthday party. The image of Leah clinging to life in the hospital became one of the most harrowing to be shown in the British media during that era.

Leah's parents, Paul and Janet, made the difficult decision to release the distressing photograph to the public, hoping to warn other families that this could happen to anyone. Their campaigning in the decade that followed Leah's death played a significant role in transforming the national debate on drugs in the UK.

The Betts visited around 2,500 schools, sharing Leah's story and the dangers of recreational drug use. They also supported the production of a short film called "Sorted" that was watched by an estimated 500,000 children. Leah's tragic death also inspired an episode of the popular TV show Hollyoaks, further raising awareness.