Sir, - Your report by Eithne Donnellan (The Irish Times, June 13th) "Drugs being found in smallest villages" may have given the impression that there is no help for people with drug problems in Co Kilkenny.
May I reassure your readers that there is a community addiction treatment service (CATS) based in St Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny which provides assessment, counselling and treatment. The service is family focused and provides outreach clinics in Castlecomer and Urlingford.
While illegal drugs are now available in places such as Kilkenny as in other counties, the major threat to mental and physical ill health and premature death are the legal drugs alcohol and tobacco.
The team of professionals working in CATS is now being expanded to meet the increasing problems in the area and in particular to address the needs of the young adult population. - Yours, etc.,
Mary O'Hanlon, Hospital Manager, St Canice's Hospital, Kilkenny.