Abuse fallout

Lyndsay Buckland details the appalling ill-effects that alcoholism and drug abuse in parents has on their children (your report, 16 May). It is estimated that around 90,000 children in Scotland may be at risk. We are also faced with other major social problems here, such as deprived areas, poor health statistics and low educational achievement in many children leaving school.

Resolving these intractable problems is much more important than independence, which in itself is unlikely to raise the standard of living in our under-privileged citizens of all ages.

It would benefit Scotland more if all the resources spent on the independence campaign were devoted to raising the horizons of the less fortunate Scottish families in our midst.

I am sure that the children phoning ChildLine are not 
worried whether or not Scotland becomes independent.

Hugh M Mackenzie 

Bonnethill Road
Pitlochry, Perthshire

Related topics: