WORCESTER'S MP, Mike Foster, had his name in lights throughout the last Parliament because of his leading role in the campaign to end hunting with hounds.

It would appear that in the years to come he will continue to hit the headlines because of his forthright approach to issues which concern the public.

On Page 1, today, we report his intention to make dealing with the growing problem of drugs in our community one of his key issues.

We applaud his move because action has to be taken to end the spiral which is drawing more and more people down with it.

Three years ago, a University College Worcester survey revealed that almost half the schoolchildren in the county had been offered illegal drugs. It also illustrated the frighteningly naive attitudes - comments from youngsters like "drugs are easy to get", "you can never stop people taking drugs", and "it's OK to try drugs to see what they're like" - which anti-drugs campaigns have to combat.

They also have to confront dealers who will go to any lengths to build their fortunes. Little more than a year ago, for example, we were reporting how dealers were offering supermarket-style loss-leader sales to try and hook new users.

Mr Foster is perfectly correct to ask the question: Why should drug dealers continue to stay in a council house when there are law-abiding people on the waiting list?

But there is no simple answer to the problem. Certainly, the stick has its place but so has the carrot.

More money being put into detox projects; "arrest referrals" to steer people dependent on drugs away from the criminal justice system and towards counselling; educating our children, and their parents, about the dangers of drug abuse - all must play their part in a multi-pronged approach.