Treatment is only of use when teamed with prevention. The entire community suffers from the consequences of drug and alcohol addiction. Television recently presented us with the sight of an 80-year-old man whose face had been pulverised. It is very difficult to rationalise such a spectacle. How can anybody deserving of the name of a human being inflict such harm on an unfortunate and innocent person? There is no answer. In many cases drugs are at the heart of the cause. When people are addicted, they will do anything to get money to feed their habit. The victims are not the only ones affected, so too are the many who were previously living out their last days in contentment and relative security who have had that taken from them. There is no longer a question of a door being left unlocked or people being able to feel secure. We have resorted to the security technology of panic buttons, alarms and so on. Fear has taken over.