YOUR article of July 19 concerning needles found in school grounds only goes to underline what a massive waste of time and effort the “War On Drugs” has been.

Since its inception in republican America as a way of disenfranchising democrat voters, it has been a constant source of misinformation to the public while remaining a politician’s PR tool.

Most of the people discarding needles have mental health problems from disease or trauma. Their drug use and homelessness are symptoms of their illness. As a society we criminalise this behaviour instead of treating it with compassion.

Let’s not forget, too, that many are ex-servicemen suffering from PTSD. When Tobias Elwood ran towards the terrorism in London he was hailed a hero. So are many of the homeless in our town. How quickly we forget.

MIKE CHALKLEY

Cowper Road, Bournemouth

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