Source: Evening News (Norwich UK) Contact: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 WHAT ABOUT ADDICT'S FAMILIES? *Sirs, I have been following the articles and letters in both the national and local press regarding drugs and related issues eg crime, decriminalisation, legalisation etc, with some interest. I well appreciate the difference between deciminalisation and legalisation, and I know some very prominent figures support either or both and no doubt we all have our own opinions in this very important debate. But one issue I wonder whether the reformists have considered is the victims of the crimes of drug addicts. And I don't just mean the victims of burglaries, robberies etc, but the families of the addicts themselves. The ripple effects permeate throughout the whole family, and we are also blighted by a lifetime of lies, theft, deceit, worry etc. This gets even worse when an addict has a baby, which brings a further batch of problems. I do think these reformists would possibly reconsider their position if they had personal experience of this scenario. Name and address supplied Norwich - ------------------------------------ *Sirs, A few years ago, the Tory government decreased the number of Customs and Excise officers. In my letter to the Evening News which you kindly printed, I said at the time that this action could only result in increased drug smuggling. Need I say more? Herbert E Widdows, Mousehold Lane, Norwich