We are living in a society today where people's misfortunes, handicaps, problems, etc have become big business.

Job vacancies abound for counsellors, therapists, special workers, fund-raisers, etc.

Has it occurred to anybody that we should be looking nationwide at the cause?

Because unless we do, all the money, centres, action teams and so on will be used purely as very inadequate sticking plaster on what is becoming a very gaping wound.

Each addict, alcoholic, victim and abuser starts life as a child. Yes, they do - innocent and in need of love and affection, care and protection, education and guidance. These should be basic human rights.

We do not appear to have a government that is prepared to take advice from other countries, where the problems we have are not as bad. Sweden, for example, puts care of the child on the top of its list of priorities.

Our attitude towards children must be examined closely and improvements, particularly in poverty, standards of care in foster homes and, of course, most importantly, education, must be made soon.

Smaller classes are essential. Proper guidance on behaviour, which could include parents as well, may give our children, and our children's children, a better start in life.

It would of course leave all those anti-drug strategists, counsellors, therapists and 'psychobabblists' out of highly paid jobs.

But we would have more doctors, nurses, scientists, musicians, artists and engineers. A happier, more balanced society, actually.

-Jacqueline Madders, Orchard Gardens, Hove