MORE than 9,000 North-East drug users received treatment for their addictions in the last year - but many others are still being denied the same access.

Figures published by the Government's National Treatment Agency (NTA) show that 9,474 so-called problematic drug users, such as those using heroin or crack cocaine, received specialist treatment in 2004/5.

This was up from 6,948 the previous year. However with an estimated 16,540 chronic drug users in the region - a figure which could in fact be even higher - thousands more are missing out.

The Government is increasing funding for drug treatment in the North-East from £11m in 2002 to £31m by 2007/8.

It says it has also increased the number of drug treatment workers by 37 per cent in the last three years to 628 this year.

Treatment programmes are co-ordinated through Drug Action Teams, which are responsible for identifying local needs and spending Government funding.

Colin Bradbury, regional manager for the NTA, said: "Improvements are being made, and the extra money that has come into the region has made a real difference."