As a recovering drug addict who has not used any drugs for almost three years, I was stunned to read the comments by Chris Hughes, the manager of Brighton's Substance Misuse Service (Argus, July 14).

As an ex-user of the "service", I was amazed Mr Hughes could believe what it offers could attract anyone to Brighton.

The death rate among addicts in Brighton is the highest in the country. It is virtually impossible to get an inpatient detox in this area because there are only two or three beds available. It would take about 40 years to detox Brighton's addicts with this level of resources.

Compared with anywhere in the UK, the local services are a shambles and completely inadequate. Clients are patronised and treated with disdain. The Patient's Charter does not seem to apply to addicts. They are forced to attend the clinic every day, seven days a week, rain or shine, no excuses allowed, no matter how valid. If you miss an appointment medication is withheld as punishment.

The Substance Misuse Service does not seem to have any logical rationale for treating addiction. Treatment is arbitrary and often quite punitive. Unlike any other illness, the addict is blamed for being ill, despite addiction being recognised as an illness by the British Medical Association. Can you imagine the uproar if insulin was withheld from a diabetic because he was ten minutes late for an appointment?

I was fortunate to get help elsewhere. If I had relied on help from the Substance Misuse Service I would probably still be waiting or, most likely, dead. I do not know of anyone who has stopped and remained free of drugs through this service. Perhaps Mr Hughes could produce some figures. This might give a good indication of the service provided.

Trying to give the impression that all is well, when it obviously is not, might keep Mr Hughes in a job but it does nothing to help the large number of suffering addicts in Brighton. How many more will die this year before reality is faced?

Kevin Martin, Richmond Gardens, Brighton

No gain

I would like to pass a message to the driver of a car who acted in a dangerous and reckless manner on the morning of Friday, July 13.

Having been driving rather close at the speed limit of 40mph, he attempted to overtake headlong towards an oncoming vehicle. This attempt was unsuccessful.

At the top of Elm Grove, Brighton, I slowed to pass a stopped bus and the car driver eventually overtook by going the wrong side of the bollard marking the centre of the road. He then sped off down the road at high speed.

Well done to you, sir. As I approached the next set of lights (at 30mph), I caught up with the car before I had to turn off. Had I continued to the end of Elm Grove, I would have stopped behind this reckless driver, so what had been gained?

Potential accident? Death? Of course, with all the safety features of the car, he would have been fine. What about the others? I would have thought once you got to about 50 years of age, you would have grown up.

Having spent some time commuting to Croydon and back, I soon realised the car that overtakes at speed still has to stop at the next traffic jam.

This happened on numerous occasions. My own skill was not speed but identifying the lane that gets me where I want to be more quickly. Sometimes I would overtake these individuals and leave them standing because they had no time to plan their route and watch where the other cars go.

I have proved that speeding through town does not get you there any quicker. Chill out and relax - we will all be much safer. Remember, 30mph means just that.

-Bryan Fahey, Balsdean Road, Brighton