John Parry (Argus, February 23) is right to imply that European figures on drug-taking by young people in the UK are of more than "continuing concern".

But his list of bigoted assertions about who's to blame could not be more wrong.

If his real concern was about drug-taking, he would have taken the trouble to find out some facts and figures from people who know what they're talking about.

Instead, he abused the subject as an excuse for a burst of outright prejudice.

One factor common to those who abuse drugs is lack of self-esteem and hope.

Two groups of people more likely to suffer from poor self-esteem, because of society's prejudice, are the single parents and lesbian and gay people he targets.

As for calling in aid the newly-created cardinal, let's remember he's a single, childless man who is known to have harboured sex abusers. There are more relevant authorities to consult.

Catherine Shelley

-Lead Councillor for Young People, Brighton and Hove City Council