A PROJECT which offers traumatised children of drug addicts a shoulder to cry on has been backed by £11,000 of government cash.

The county-wide scheme will provide emotional support and advice for youngsters, particularly teenagers, who miss out on this at home because of their drug-dependent parents.

Lancashire's Drug Action Team secured the cash in a £44,000 hand-out from the government's Drug Challenge Fund, the third largest in the region.

The rest of the money will be spent on an arrest referral scheme - to be piloted in Preston - and a Chorley-based drop in advice centre.

Ian Phillips, Lancashire's DAT strategy co-ordinator, said: "The county-wide project which aims to help the children of drug abusers is particularly delicate. Addicts' children tend to get forgotten about and therefore fall into the same trap as their parents. We want to break that cycle and give the youngsters a chance to avoid drug abuse."

Drug workers will use the county's Drugline agency - which began life as a telephone helpline and expanded to a support group which operates on a street level - to identify families who may need help.

Mr Phillips added: "We have been concerned for some time that children are not receiving enough support and we are hoping this flexible new service will be the light at the end of the tunnel for some youngsters."

Ann Taylor, the president and chair of the ministerial sub-committee on Drug Misuse, said: "I was delighted with the response from Drug Action Teams in the North West. Many of these projects are particularly innovative and interesting - especially those looking at new ways to reach young people most at risk of drug abuse."

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