Unnecessary burden on NHS

Sir, - It has been announced that there is likely to be a project given the green light where Glasgow drug addicts can go to avail themselves of prescribed heroin and needles in a bid to cut crime in the city and reduce the number of abandoned needles.

I think this is a completely ludicrous idea from a local authority.

Many hard-working tax-paying patients in Scotland are denied life-saving and enhancing drugs because of the cost of treatment, yet heroin addicts, who by and large choose that lifestyle, get free treatment.

It does not make the situation any better.

I believe it makes it worse and sends out completely the wrong message.

Drug taking is a criminal act and needs to be treated as such.

This soft-soap approach is a burden on the overstretched and underfunded NHS that it could well do without. Gordon Kennedy. 117 Simpson Square, Perth.