Approach to drugs trade not serious enough

Sir, – How do you steer the young clear of drugs? LorraineWilson asked in her column onThursday. She suggests “wider education” and “harsher penalties for all those in the supply chain”. The trouble is the authorities are not nearly serious enough in their approach to the drug trade.

Lorraine is right – much harsher penalties are essential; our courts are far too lenient both with drug-users and drug-traffickers. And the policy of placing heroin-users on methadone for ever more has not worked. A completely new approach is needed, with persistent offenders consigned to special secure units to stay there until they are dried out.

If they return to drug-taking, they should be returned to the units.

Meanwhile, access to illegal drugs should be made far more difficult. Drug traffickers should be swept off our streets and out of our council estates. More importantly, there should be a zero tolerance attitude towards pub and club-owners on whose premises drugs are taken or sold. A heavy fine and warning for a first offence, even more swingeing penalties for a second and closure of the premises for a third.

Such measures would go a long way to making our society safe from drugs for youngsters from all sections of society. It would no longer be a giggle to experiment with drugs – as it is now – in a night club or pub.

The disgrace of an almost certain appearance in court for a drug offence would deter all but the most reckless teenagers.

School campaigns are necessary, but they have not stopped the spread of drug usage in the young. We need to clamp down so hard that the temptation is removed altogether. We might also take another look at the lax licensing laws which encourage our young people to turn night into day as they drink and drug themselves into oblivion. George K McMillan. 5 MountTaborAvenue, Perth.