The number of people seeking treatment for drug problems has risen by almost 10 per cent in the region which includes Bedfordshire.

Statistics published by the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA) reveal that 13,748 drug misusers from Eastern region received structured (or specialist) drug treatment in 2005/6, an increase of nine per cent on the previous year.

The statistics, collated by Manchester University from the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System, also reveal that 77 per cent of new clients in Eastern England remained in structured treatment for 12 weeks or more following triage assessment in 2005/6.

Evidence suggests that treatment is more likely to be effective if drug misusers stay in treatment for at least 12 weeks.

"More people in Eastern England are receiving the treatment they need and more are staying in treatment longer, which increases the chances of their treatment being effective," says NTA regional manager, Janaka Perera.

"Effective drug treatment delivers benefits to individuals, reduces the spread of blood borne viruses such as HIV and hepatitis within the population at large, and improves the safety of communities by reducing drug related crime."

A complete breakdown of numbers in treatment and on a local basis is available on the NTA website www.nta.nhs.uk.

The most frequently reported main drugs of misuse by adult clients in the region:
Heroin - 57 per cent (7,232)
Methadone or other opiates - 9 per cent (1,103)
Crack or cocaine - 14 per cent (1,679)
Cannabis - 12 per cent (1,494)

The most frequently reported main drugs of misuse by clients aged under 18 years were cannabis (73 per cent); heroin or other opiates (11 per cent) and crack or cocaine (seven per cent)