A WAR on drugs is to be launched in Burnley, following demands for action from townspeople.

Council chiefs are to step up drugs initiatives in direct response to widespread and growing concern.

Labour bosses aim to build on present schemes by putting £73,000 into a new anti-drug plan and bid for more cash to help tackle the menace.

They will strengthen links with the police and other help agencies and draw up an overall action plan in the coming weeks.

The move follows a major recent survey of more than 1,100 Burnley residents which identified drug problems as a major source of concern - second only to the need for more and better jobs.

The investigation highlighted:

Concern over the dumping of needles in public places and the fear of crime being committed by habitual users.

Parents' fears that their children may become involved in drug misuse.

Feelings of intimidation generated by drug dealing in neighbourhoods. Residents also called for more police action against drug pushers.

A report to tonight's meeting of Burnley Council's policy committee says the North West has the highest recorded incidence of problem drug use in England and Wales.

It states concerns expressed by residents are genuine and the problems exist to a greater or lesser extent in different parts of Burnley.

It stresses the need to differentiate between drug problems and not lump them together.

It states: "Addiction to a drug like heroin, for example, coupled with unemployment, is highly likely to lead to criminal activity such as burglary or drug dealing to fund addiction.

"The same link with crime is not so apparent in experimental or recreational use of drugs such as cannabis or ecstasy which, although carrying potential dangers of their own, may not always cause individual users or the community such great problems."

It adds: "Any response to drug issues needs to reflect these differences, rather than simply addressing the 'drug problem' as if it were experienced in a uniform way."

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