WHAT ABOUT ADDICT'S FAMILIES?

*Sirs, I have been following the articles and letters in both the national
and local press regarding drugs and related issues eg crime,
decriminalisation, legalisation etc, with some interest.

I well appreciate the difference between deciminalisation and legalisation,
and I know some very prominent figures support either or both and no doubt
we all have our own opinions in this very important debate.

But one issue I wonder whether the reformists have considered is the
victims of the crimes of drug addicts.

And I don't just mean the victims of burglaries, robberies etc, but the
families of the addicts themselves.

The ripple effects permeate throughout the whole family, and we are also
blighted by a lifetime of lies, theft, deceit, worry etc.

This gets even worse when an addict has a baby, which brings a further
batch of problems.

I do think these reformists would possibly reconsider their position if
they had personal experience of this scenario.

Name and address supplied Norwich

*Sirs,

A few years ago, the Tory government decreased the number of Customs and
Excise officers.

In my letter to the Evening News which you kindly printed, I said at the
time that this action could only result in increased drug smuggling.

Need I say more?

Herbert E Widdows, Mousehold Lane, Norwich