DRUG ABUSE AND LITERACY

Sir, 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.

Yours, etc.,

JOHN ADAMS,

Ballymun Youth Action Project,
Dublin 11.