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'Life expectancy doesn't worry me'

According to the World Health Organisation, John Hamilton should be dead. At the age of 56, the self-confessed lifelong alcoholic is the exception to figures it published yesterday that showed the average life expectancy for a male living in the Calton area of Glasgow is just 54.

Yesterday's report chose Glasgow to highlight inequities that can exist side-by-side, comparing deprived Calton to affluent Lenzie, about eight miles away, where males can look forward to an extra 28 years, reaching an average age of 82.

Community leaders in the Calton ward said that the report reflected the deep-rooted social problems that blight the area.

Monsignor Peter Smith, priest at the local Roman Catholic church, St Mary's, blamed the scourge of drug addiction in large part for the WHO figures, but pointed out that there were also many happy and healthy residents in Calton.

“I don't think it is as clear an issue as it seems,” he said. “What you are seeing here is a manifestation of very severe social problems, like drug addiction, which sadly takes away young people at a very early age. Many people feel they can better themselves by moving out of the area, so that affects the figures too.”

“These are diverse problems - it is not like the wind blowing off Glasgow Green makes you ill.”

Full story at The Times.