Leah's family: 'This is idiotic'

The stepmother of teenager Leah Betts, who died in 1995 after taking ecstasy at her 18th birthday party, today hit out at the report recommending a softer line on the drug, saying it would "play into the hands of the dealers".

Janet Betts said: "It just shows how misinformed the MPs are. It is hypocritical. They are idiots.

"They should be telling people to get tougher on drugs not making it easier.

"All they are doing is playing into the hands of the dealers and making things lighter for them. I hope the Government does not take too much notice of this report. I hope Mr Blair and Mr Blunkett have got more sense."

She added: "The thing I found most worrying was that they said the risks from ecstasy could be reduced in nightclubs. They believe water and chill out rooms make ecstasy safer. That is wrong.

"People start on cannabis and ecstasy then move onto cocaine and heroin. They don't seem to realise that."

Leah Betts collapsed and stopped breathing after taking the ecstasy tablet. She died five days later. Leah started to experiment with drugs at the beginning of that year. She tried cannabis before moving on to amphetamines, LSD and ecstasy.

Catya Sassoon, 33, the daughter of hairstylist Vidal Sassoon, died in her sleep in Los Angeles after taking ecstasy at a New Year's eve party this year.