ANTI-HEROIN PROJECT TRANSFORMS TOWNS

A remarkable drugs project has transformed one of the regions worst
affected by heroin addiction, it was revealed last week. Until
recently, drug-related crimes made life a nightmare for people in the
former pit villages of north Nottingham, with one in three families
experiencing a fatal overdose, an addiction or a drug-related burglary.

But these statistics have been reversed by a social experiment which
suggests that Britain may finally have a solution in the fight
against hard drug abuse.

Since the scheme's launch three years ago, crime in the
Nottinghamshire constituency of Bassetlaw has fallen by 75% and the
number of heroin addicts has been reduced by a similar figure.

The scheme's premise is simple: rather than being viewed as a crime,
heroin addiction is treated as a medical condition. Addicts in towns
like Worksop, once badly affected, are offered a choice between
prison or a course of treatment prescribed by their GP. Worksop could
save UKP20m a year through cutting crime and rehabilitating addicts.

Inspired by local Labour MP John Mann, who had watched his
constituency disintegrate through an epidemic of heroin addiction,
doctors are given responsibility for tackling the issue.

Four years ago, just two heroin addicts in Bassetlaw were receiving
treatment while there were 80 burglaries a month. Now 400 addicts are
receiving treatment and only 20 burglaries were reported in the
region last month.

Residents say their lives have been transformed; they can now go
shopping without fear of being robbed.

Josie Potts, of Manton, a former pit village, began campaigning
against heroin in 2002 after her grandson came home clutching a bag
of used syringes. 'I remember thinking that I was staring at the
future,' she said. 'At the time it was terrible, no one was safe. Now
it is a different place ... everyone looks happier.'

The death knocks have also stopped. Just two heroin overdoses have
been recorded in three years in Bassetlaw compared with 12 in 2002.