Today's message from a father who lost his son after a drink and drugs binge should serve as a salutary warning to us all.

Tragic Daniel Mills, in the prime of his life at 23, was found dead after consuming a large quantity of lager, cocaine and anti-depressants.

His death in March from hypothermia was an accident.

Peter Mills said he did not realise how rife the problem of drink and drug abuse was among youngsters until his son's death.

He said he hoped some good could come of his loss by making people more aware of the dangers of what has become an acceptable pastime among some people.

We hope he is right, but somehow we doubt it.

We have lost count of the number of times we have reported a tragic - and avoidable - death, only for it to be repeated soon afterwards.

Sadly, a lot of drink and drug abuse is glamorised by so-called stars, then taken up by impressionable youngsters.

But if Daniel's story helps keep at least one youngster on the straight and narrow, his life will not have been in vain.