Madam, - I read with interest your recent Editorial "Tackling complex problem of crime" (October 11th). In dealing with any problem the first priority is to define its nature and not pretend it is other than what it is. The illicit drugs trade is the engine driving a major part of criminality. The heart of the problem is the ever increasing demand for these substances. If that is not addressed the problem is insoluble.
In my view the only solution is to give all these substances the same status as the legal drugs, alcohol and tobacco. That would immediately remove the criminals from the equation and deprive them of their greatest source of revenue. It would free the gardaí from their wild-goose chase after drug dealers and allow them to concentrate on the crimes that affect most people - robbery, burglary and criminal yobbery, euphemistically referred to as "anti-social behaviour".
As with the legal drugs the illicit variety could be taxed by the State and the revenue used for clinical treatment and to engage a top advertising agency with the remit to deglamourise all drugs. Paid enough money, the admen can sell us anything including a healthy lifestyle.
Drug abuse will never be eradicated, whatever we do, but I am convinced the above strategy would address and reverse the ever increasing demand. - Yours, etc,
JAMES MORAN,
Knockanure,
Bunclody, Co Wexford.