Sir, - I was struck by the obvious link between your two excellent editorials entitled "Drugs and Young People" and "Education for All" (November 10th). In the first, you discuss the recent report that places Irish teenagers "at the top of the European league in terms of the use of tobacco, alcohol, and certain illegal drugs such as cannabis and ecstasy". In the next, you highlight a study that estimates that "500,000 Irish adults have severe difficulties in reading and writing".
The literacy report shows up the widening divisions in our society, with the educated knowing how to make their voices heard, while those who have reading difficulties "do not vote" and their "stake in our society seems to be shrinking all the time". Communities most affected by drug misuse would also see a clear link between the failings of the education system and drug misuse, especially among teenagers.
For years, the Irish education system has failed the needs of many members of society. In your editorial "Education for All", you refer to the comments of Ms gross inequality in the facilities of different schools and in the richness of the educational experiences they can offer.
Young people do not live in a vacuum. We must look at them in terms of their family life, school life, community life and recreational life. By using community development principles, we can join parents in helping them to find their voice in society. Progress will be made only when all systems (schools, drug services, community development, youth services, housing, etc.) involved with young people begin to jointly tackle the problem of drugs. - Yours, etc.,
From John Adams
Ballymun Youth Action Project, Dublin 11.