Tips for life

We must all share Bill Simpson's dismay at the very worryingly high proportion of Scots habituated or addicted to unhealthy and/or fatal “recreational” drugs, including excess alcohol, and tobacco smoking (Letters, 31 March). He offers no practical suggestions for reductions in such self-harm. Believing that governments can play a part, Mr Simpson and others imply that politicians must share the blame. The causal problems are surely not a party political matter, except inasmuch as this lifestyle epidemic is linked to poverty and hopelessness.

The most obvious model for reducing the disease toll is the very marked fall in cigarette smoking over many years, partly from higher tobacco taxation and better public health education.

Systems for reducing illicit drug and excessive alcohol habits are only partially successful. Perhaps the most underprivileged victims are relatively impervious to habit-change. Better public information and employment prospects would help… but how to achieve that? Variations within the UK’S nations reflecting differing levels of unemployment and poverty could be helped only partially by increased government spending. Ultimately, beyond a hard core of refractory “victims”, better employment prospects are the best way to minimise this public health problem. However, improved trends in numbers at work must depend on boosting successful business. Higher social security spending cannot be a realistic solution but falling taxes could help business activity and poverty.

Avoidance of wastes of taxpayers' money is the main way to achieve lower taxes, which increase revenue as demonstrated in the Laffer curve.

Such options depend on government action being a higher priority than boosting “handouts”.

Can Scotsman readers propose how government can reduce avoidable spending? (DR) CHARLES WARDROP

Perth