THE Government's Drugs "Czar" has praised a positive local partnership which is helping drug users and society as a whole.

And in a visit arranged by Bury and Rochdale Health Authority on Monday, Mr Keith Hellawell viewed a mobile drugs information unit which will soon be touring the streets of Bury.

Mr Hellawell, the UK's Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator, addressed a conference on improving health services for drugs users in Bury and Rochdale.

The conference in Castleton, near Rochdale, was attended by more than 60 health professionals who were briefed about the local drugs strategy.

Before he spoke, Mr Hellawell saw a newly-launched drugs information bus which was donated by GM Buses.

It will be staffed by youth workers from Bury's Community Education Service as part of the young people's strategy.

The initiative is supported by Bury police and the Bury Drugs Action Team. One of the key men behind the project was police officer Sgt Steve Earnshaw who had earlier approached the bus company.

In his speech, Mr Hellawell explained the national agenda and, in particular, the Government's White Paper, "Tackling Drugs to Build a Better Britain."

He explained to the delegates the four main aims in helping drug users. These were:

To assist young people resist drugs misuse in order to achieve their full potential in society.

To protect communities from drug-related anti-social and criminal behaviour.

Stifle the availability of illegal drugs on the streets.

Enable people with drug problems to overcome them and live a healthy and crime-free life. Mr Hellawell added: "Drugs didn't really become an issue until the last few years. Relatively speaking, it's a new science."

He said it was his objective to talk to as many people as possible in the field - from police and social workers to GPs and those involved in treatment.

"My job is to set a national plan of action," stressed Mr Hellawell.

To be delivered against the Government's strategy, he disclosed the document would set targets and bring in standards.

The former West Yorkshire Chief Constable said: "Bury and Rochdale is a good example of how local health, social and law enforcement agencies can work together to help drug users and society as a whole.

"In any effective drugs strategy, local needs and priorities must be reflected within the national agenda."

Dr Kevin Snee, Bury and Rochdale's director of public health, explained: "We have been developing a local strategy for drug users which is steered by drug action teams in both towns.

"We are working towards a model whereby all agencies involved in the care and control of drug users are pulling in the same direction." He added: "We must deliver health services that are effective and suited to the needs of drug users.

"These may not resemble the traditional ways in which drug users are cared for and may require shifts in resources from one area of health care to another."

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