THE letter from Dr Stuart-Hill regarding drug addiction (Wiltshire Times, August 23) was an excellent example of how political parties, once in power, maintain the status quo.

Our health service is more about a market for the pharmaceutical industry than about health or prevention of illnesses and diseases.

Harmful bacteria, resistant to antibiotics in human and non-human animals, are increasing at about three to four per cent per year because of over-prescription, many side effects are causing problems worse than the one they were prescribed for.

The ex-chairman of the official body which has to pass any drug before it can be prescribed to the general public said: "Show me a drug without adverse effects and you are showing me a placebo."

Yet it is not a case of either or, a dangerous tactic used by vested interests and many media pundits, causing panic. This panders to the quick fix mentality at the heart of why we have drug reliant societies where one chemical causing the problem is made worse by the application of another.

Surely it would be more positive to allow well-informed critics to give informed criticism so others can make an informed choice, but this affects the controlling vested interest of our societies.

Alternative or herbal medicines are becoming more difficult to obtain, ignoring the fact that 80 per cent of world medicines are herbal. Like the outdated method of testing drugs on non-human animals, this is being done by laboratories relying on charity and lack of clinical trials, both important factors in the side effects debate. Meanwhile glib words from politicians about freedom of choice to inflict cruelty on our wildlife for fun, are given priority.

DAVID THOMAS,

Hisomley,

Nr Westbury.