HEALTH and social issues are inextricably linked to high levels of drug misuse in Burnley with dealers preying on the vulnerable who live in deprived areas.

Chief Executive of Burnley and Pendle Primary Care Group Tim Mansfield said there was a concern that economic factors were one of the causes of high drug misuse. He has now called for more resources to help tackle the issues of social deprivation, including drug abuse.

He said: "In Burnley the preponderance of low paid, low skilled labour with the consequent low aspirations of school age children and teenagers provide some of the causes of drug misuse along with teenage pregnancy and alcohol misuse."

He added that although Burnley showed many characteristics of an inner city area in its levels of poverty and deprivation these were often not reflected in the levels of funding given to the town.

"We are concerned that these problems are not recognised in the funding that has been made available to local health services. One example was the Healthy Living Centre proposal for south west Burnley which was turned down for spurious reasons. We need to ensure public sector organisations are more responsive to the needs of local people."