REGARDING the story 'Are we going soft on hard drugs?' (May 3). Although I agree with ACPO that drug users who are arrested for committing a crime should be offered treatment for their addiction, I still feel young people should be discouraged from taking soft drugs in the first place, as stated in my letter published by the Bolton Evening News on May 1.

Why wait until these people get to the point where they turn to crime? I am sure many parents will agree that the "Go easy on soft drugs policy" will only give ACPO more drug-related crime offenders to deal with.

Mrs S Howarth

Hollowell Lane, Horwich