VICTIMS

I was impressed and gratified to read Melanie Phillips's excellent article.

It was refreshing to see somebody take such a well-informed and reasoned
stance against the lobbyists for softening of the laws regarding supply and
use of drugs.

As parents who have lost a much-loved son to heroin, my wife and I are very
aware of the magnitude of the current drug problem and are determined to do
anything we can to help change the situation.

Two factors do nothing to deter supply and use.

One is the media's persistence in referring to substances such as cocaine
and ecstasy as ''recreational'' rather than ''illegal'' drugs.

The other is the inconsistency of sentences handed out to those convicted
of supplying. We have recently discovered that Gloucestershire has one of
the most lenient sentencing records in the country for drug dealing and is
commonly regarded by dealers as a soft option.

Ian MacDonald
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire