I was struck by the obvious link between your two excellent
editorials entitled "Drugs and Young People" and "Education for
All" (November 10th). In the first, you discuss the recent report
that places Irish teenagers "at the top of the European league in
terms of the use of tobacco, alcohol, and certain illegal drugs
such as cannabis and ecstasy". In the next, you highlight a study
that estimates that "500,000 Irish adults have severe
difficulties in reading and writing".

The literacy report shows up the widening divisions in our
society, with the educated knowing how to make their voices
heard, while those who have reading difficulties "do not vote"
and their "stake in our society seems to be shrinking all the
time". Communities most affected by drug misuse would also see a
clear link between the failings of the education system and drug
misuse, especially among teenagers.

For years, the Irish education system has failed the needs of
many members of society. In your editorial "Education for All",
you refer to the comments of Ms gross inequality in the
facilities of different schools and in the richness of the
educational experiences they can offer.

Young people do not live in a vacuum. We must look at them in
terms of their family life, school life, community life and
recreational life. By using community development principles, we
can join parents in helping them to find their voice in society.
Progress will be made only when all systems (schools, drug
services, community development, youth services, housing, etc.)
involved with young people begin to jointly tackle the problem of drugs.

John Adams
Ballymun Youth Action Project
Dublin 11