SIR ALEX TACKLES THE DRUG BARONS

Soccer heroes Sir Alex Ferguson and Andy Cole were signed up by the
government today in the war against drug abuse.

The Manchester United boss and the Reds and England striker joined other
sports role models and Chancellor Gordon Brown on a tour of Salford to kick
off a ?300 million campaign to drive dealers off the streets.

The all-star line up was due to include Denise Lewis, OBE, as well as Rugby
League aces Martin Offiah and Bobby Goulding.

As Sir Alex prepared to supervise a five-a-side football match at Salford
Reds Rugby League Club, organised by the Positive Futures project, he said:
"Young people are our future and should be offered every opportunity to aim
high and reach their goals. I know from experience that nurturing talent
from an early age and investing time in individuals can pay dividends for
everyone.

"Drugs ruin the potential of too many of our children and sport provides a
valuable alternative to the dangerous diversion they can create."

Cabinet Office minister Ian McCartney - whose 23-year-old son Hugh died of
a heroin overdose - appealed to local communities to join the fight.

The Makerfield MP said: "Drugs destroy young lives, families and
communities. It's time for all of us - government, police, councils,
voluntary groups - to work with you and your community to destroy this blight."

During today's launch, ministers turned the spotlight on local anti-drugs
schemes, including the Manchester Prostitution Forum, designed to steer sex
workers off the streets.

Today, Chancellor Gordon Brown joined the sporting stars to spread the
message and to announce how the ?300m will be distributed.

He promised more money for drug action teams, to help tackle neighbourhood
drugs problems and more money to prevent young people becoming hooked into
drugs and crime.

Mr McCartney said the government needed help at the sharp end from
communities threatened by drugs and - with the help of sports stars - to
offer treatment to those who want to wean themselves away from drugs.

Warning that drug abuse is blamed for the deaths of 3,000 people a year,
the minister said it caused lasting health problems such as HIV and
hepatitis, apart from costing the taxpayer and business huge sums of money.