TWIN HAZARDS OF BINGE DRINKING AND CANNABIS

The revelations about Prince Harry expose a problem which is blighting
society, from the well-heeled children of the upper class through to
youngsters who live on the most deprived estates. Attention at the weekend
was focused mainly on the prince's cannabis consumption but experts said
the affair highlighted the twin problems of drug and alcohol abuse.

By the time they reach their 16th birthday the vast majority of youngsters
have experimented with drink and three-quarters have been drunk. Binge
drinking is on the increase with campaigners often blaming drinks
manufacturers for targeting youngsters. As many as 40% of 16-year-olds have
tried or are regular users of cannabis.

Excessive drinking often ends up with youngsters getting into trouble with
the law while taking cannabis and other soft drugs can lead to
experimentation, and sometimes addiction, with harder substances.

Campaigners yesterday praised Prince Charles' decision to send Prince Harry
on a visit to Featherstone Lodge, an addiction centre in Forest Hill, south
London, but also said it was important not to brush the dangers of alcohol
to one side.

Rosie Brocklehurst, director of communications at the drug and alcohol
charity Addaction, said: "It's every parent's nightmare that their child is
going to get involved in drugs. It seems that the Prince of Wales has acted
with deep sensitivity and very quickly.

"But it is vital that we do not forget about the hazards of drink. Young
people usually start experimenting with alcohol and cigarettes and then
often move on to drugs. The government has a drugs strategy but no
published alcohol strategy. Alcohol is still more socially acceptable than
drug taking but it can be just as dangerous."

Ms Brocklehurst said there were few facilities for the treatment of young
teenagers with drug problems - Featherstone Lodge residents must be over 18
- - and there was no published national strategy for dealing with problems
created by alcohol.

Yesterday Featherstone Lodge, which was visited by Harry in August, was
besieged by photographers and camera crews. The blinds were pulled down to
protect the privacy of the 20-odd residents, mainly recovering heroin and
cocaine addicts. Loud rap and soul music was being played inside.

Residents had been told to prepare themselves for a royal visit only a few
minutes before Harry's arrival. The prince chatted with recovering addicts
over a cup of tea, examined art work produced by residents and sat in on a
communal therapy group.

Bill Puddicombe, chief executive of the charity Phoenix House which runs
the centre, said: "Residents told him in stark, horrendous detail about
their lives prior to arriving at Featherstone Lodge.

"The residents are people in the main who have lost everything, who have
lost their homes, lost touch with their families and in some cases lost
touch with children. Their lives revolve around nothing more than trying to
get their next hit."

During the visit, Harry was said to be relaxed and the residents "warmed to
him". At the time the centre did not know of Prince Charles' reasons for
wanting Harry to visit them but Mr Puddicombe said it now seemed like a
"piece of responsible parenting".