IT'S EXTREMELY WRONG TO WISH ANYBODY DEAD

I APPLAUD the care and dedication that J. Hutt (Evening News, January 10)
accords to his / her son, whom they refer to as their "forever babe".

We refer to our beloved son David as "forever 22" (years of age). That was
his age in 1984 when we buried him.

What has enraged me is that J. Hutt, who obviously has tenderness and
compassion towards his own offspring, should have become - in the often
traumatic turmoil of caring for such a severely stricken child - so
bitterly twisted in attitude to the offspring of others who, as happened to
my son, have become caught up in the misuse of drugs.

J. Hutt actually welcomes the death of these unfortunates. I quote: "The
sooner they overdose the better."

We had no idea our David had a problem until about two years before his
death, when he was in and out of various mental hospitals.

Only after his death did we become aware of just how badly effected he was
and just how long it had gone on.

At the age of 10, he was using speed, supplied to him by a man who is now a
teacher.

And my inquiries into his suppliers led me to other people in positions of
authority which would shake J. Hutt, who does not place the blame for drug
use where it truly belongs - on the supplier, not the unfortunate addict.

Far from being from a deprived background, David was well loved, the only
child of a marriage, which has endured for almost 40 years.

So the purpose of this letter is to point out to all and sundry that drug
addiction can happen to anyone. And there is no such thing as a soft drug.

My son started by smoking and then his "mates" spiked his smokes with
cannabis. The rest, as they say is history.

Enjoy your "forever baby", J. Hutt. My family and I wish you well and may
God be with you.

But please, in future, do not judge others until you've walked a mile in
their moccasins. Never wish anyone dead.

P. King
Woodhill Rise
Norwich