THE regularisation of Class A substances such as Heroin and Cocaine is the only way to win the war on drugs according to Cumbria’s health chief.

John Ashton, director of public health at Cumbria NHS, labelled the current focus on catching drug dealers as “irrational” and called for hard drugs to be made available at pharmacies.

He believes this would not only take the power away from major drug barons and reduce crime, but would enable the NHS to keep track of drug users, develop a relationship with them and direct them to treatment centres.

“Drugs are always going to be freely available and, at the moment, we have gangsters making life impossible in our cities and communities,” he said. “The big cities are a saturated market and drug dealers are increasingly turning their attention to market towns and rural areas. We have been focusing on the supply side and it clearly hasn’t worked.

“The big drug barons rarely get caught and even when they do, there is always someone waiting to take their place.”

Speaking at the Tackling Drugs Changing Lives conference in Carlisle, Mr Ashton said it was time for “fresh thinking,” adding: “We need to determine why young people start taking drugs in the first place.”

Mr Aston started his career in public health in Liverpool in the early 1980s and has seen first hand how increased unemployment, insufficient support and stigmatisation of young people can cause them to turn to drugs.

With the country now in the grips of recession, he believes it is even more important to support and celebrate young people.

“If drugs were regularised, the millions of pounds spent fighting drug crime could be invested in youth work and education, with the objective being that every child leaves school with a passion in life,” he said.

“It could be for outdoor pursuits, chess or for any activity but whatever it is they will want to do for the rest of their lives. Drugs and alcohol would get in the way of their passion.”

What do you think? Should drugs be available over the counter in pharmacies? Write to Letters and Opinions, The Westmorland Gazette, 1 Wainwright’s Yard, Kendal, LA9 4DP or email letters@kendal.newsquest.co.uk.