Richard Croall's letter (October 14) about comparing drug taking to alcohol consumption is a non-starter.

He claims the unfortunate people who are hooked on heroin have the decency to find a "private" place to take it.

I bet the office workers who watch the addicts shooting up at the back of Fossgate, the residents of Rowntree Warf, the boat people who use the bin compound in Museum Gardens and the taxi drivers at St Saviourgate taxi rank would argue with the term "private"

Then there is the street sweepers who on a daily basis clean up alcohol and drug debris on a daily basis.

Given a choice of cleaning a pile of vomit up or clearing a pile of blood- filled syringes, I know which I would choose! Would drug takers use a place to inject if one were provided?

I am sure they would, but only for the safety of knowing the police couldn't touch them while they were indoors and that it would be a safe haven for their pushers to ply their trade to the addicts "en masse".

Drug and alcohol abuse both have dark sides but, as with any type of abuse, help is on hand if the person is willing to accept it!

PR Willey,

Burnholme Drive, Heworth, York.

Updated: 10:11 Wednesday, October 16, 2002