Working Together to Break the Grip of Drugs – Letter in the Dundee Courier

The Dundee Courier printed the picture above as its cover a couple of days ago.  It was very effective – at least on me and had me on my knees!  I wrote to them this response and am delighted to see that today they had it as their main letter (see above)

There is a hopelessness about so many people.  They are without hope because they are without God – and that is surely what the Gospel is about.  God have mercy on this city….this is why we are here!

Dear Editor,

Thank you for your front cover and following story on the drug problem in Dundee (Monday, May 15). Although the picture was very disturbing, that is the point. The whole issue is very disturbing. I’m afraid however that the suggestion of shooting galleries, even if it were to work, is just a sticking plaster measure. The problem is complex and needs a multidisciplinary approach. Drug dealing should be much more severely punished, there needs to be an increase in drug rehab provision and most of all we need to ask why people are so desperate that they will take a drug which destroys their life and often kills them.

 Another story in the Courier indicates another source of the problem.   We have now reached a stage in our society where dedicated mental health workers are to be deployed in the cities schools.   As the report points out the major issue is that of dysfunctional families and broken down relationships.   As a society we need to ask why there is such hopelessness and despair among so many in our community. Dundee is a great city, but there are those for whom that is irrelevant as their lives seem without hope. I wonder if we are prepared to face up to what is happening among so many in our community, or we will we continue to gloss over the deep-rooted problems in so many lives?

 I don’t think that this is a problem which will be sorted by any one group or any one simplistic solution. The police, the education system, social work, the health service, voluntary organisations and churches, families, and ordinary people caring for one another in the community.all need to work together.    We can choose to avoid this issue, play the blame game,or make a superficial solution,  but surely what is needed is a new and radical approach from us all. Thank you to the Courier for at least raising the issue. Where do we go from here?