COMMUNITIES across Pendle are being invited to get involved with a new drug treatment project being launched across the borough.

The Options for All project will hold a consultation event at Nelson Civic Theatre on Wednesday, between 1pm and 5pm.

Options for All has been developed by drugs charity Inward House with funding from Pendle Partnership.

Shaun Coady, who manages the project, said: "The aim of the afternoon is to make sure that drug users know that help is available and to encourage local communities to suggest ways of ensuring that people with drug misuse problems get the help they need. One of the main objectives is to engage young people and encourage drug users to return to education, training and employment.

"A range of activities will be provided including sport and music events. Literacy and computer skills courses will also be provided by Nelson and Colne College and the Workers Education Association.

"Life skills such as timekeeping, interview skills, anger management and interpersonal and communication skills will also be encouraged and clients will get help with confidence building and self-esteem."

Anne Taylor of Pendle Partnership, which is providing £6,493 towards the project during the next two years, said: "Options for All aims to help break the link between drug use and crime by helping addicts to overcome their addiction. It is hoped that this approach will help to cut acquisitive crime, such as burglary, shoplifting and car crime.

"Drug use can wreck lives and cause serious health problems, addiction and even death from overdose. It affects all communities in every part of Pendle leaving them feeling helpless, powerless and unsure of how best to deal with the situation. Addicts may resort to crime to pay for their habit, and families and communities are often the first to suffer.

"Sending people to prison rarely works. Providing treatment and supporting drug users before they get involved in crime is the answer -- prevention is better than prison. It is in everybody's interests to help drug users to overcome their problems and change their behaviour.

"Options for All will help to give young people in Pendle a second chance to live a drug free life."

Options for All is working together with different agencies in Pendle to help resolve the drug problem. It will act as a bridge between socially excluded young people and mainstream drug services linking up with drug treatment and rehabilitation services and working together with partners such as the probation service, housing providers, the courts, local colleges, social services, the council and the police.