JOINED-UP THINKING NEEDED ON THE HOMELESS

Your leader (December 15) rightly highlighted the difficulty of
working with people who are homeless and use drugs. This is compounded
by the failure of the government to fully recognise the scale of the
problem. You cite the government's report as estimating the number of
rough sleepers with drug problems to be 20%. The true figure is far
higher, with studies in London, Manchester and Glasgow putting the
figure at between 80% and 90%.

This under-reporting of drug use should come as no surprise. Many drug
users are barred from provision by agencies who feel they must exclude
or risk prosecution. Other drug users do use services, but keep their
drug use secret to avoid being excluded. This helps no one: agencies
do not get the resources or support they need to do vital work; drug
users do not access help they need to tackle their problems; and the
public reap the consequences of drug users forced back on to the
streets. Surely it is time to look again at the law and develop a
sensible, legal framework which helps rather than hinders dedicated
professionals working with those most in need.

Kevin Flemen
Release