AN “URGENTLY needed” cash boost to deal with Middlesbrough’s drug woes has been unveiled in a new project.

The town will receive £4.5m as part of “Project Adder” – a three year scheme promising to clamp down on drug misuse and criminal gangs while offering support to recovering addicts.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics show 24 people died of drug misuse in Middlesbrough in 2019 – the highest number in the town since records began in 1993.

Statistics also show Cleveland has seen a rise in recorded drug crime between 2015/16 and 2019/20 – with 1,797 offences logged compared to 1,459 five years ago.

Leaders say Project Adder – standing for addiction, diversion, disruption, enforcement, and recovery – will be “a new intensive approach” to tackling drug misuse by combining targeted and tougher policing with enhanced treatment and recovery services.

It will run over three financial years with the council, health services and Cleveland Police taking part.

Deputy mayor Cllr Antony High was appointed as the town’s “drugs tzar” in 2019 in response to the town’s substance abuse problems.

He said the Government money was welcome and “urgently needed” – explaining it would be added to a newly commissioned model of treatment for the town’s vulnerable and troubled.

Cllr High added: “This funding is a major boost for Middlesbrough and will help to transform countless lives.

“The fantastic opportunity created by Project Adder will enable us to further develop our focus on early intervention initiatives – with targeted interventions for young people and high-risk groups, and improved support for those leaving the criminal justice system and integrating back into the community.”

The council wants a more targeted support in cocaine services, more work to reduce drug deaths and a greater focus on drug related crime as part of a new approach.

Officials say Project Adder will tackle the root-causes for drug misuse through “trauma-informed practice”, addressing wider health needs as well as housing, employment and social issues.

Simon Clarke, Conservative MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, said: “Parts of our town are blighted by some of the darkest and most violent networks of drug supply and abuse – this is a major, sophisticated intervention and has my full support.”

Assistant Chief Constable Lisa Orchard believed the scheme would help the force protect the town’s most vulnerable.

She added: “We will work with our partner agencies to identify people who are being exploited by criminals through drugs and use enforcement action to disrupt and dismantle drug networks.

“We are relentless in our pursuit of organised criminals who bring drugs to our streets, and this work will continue with Project Adder.

“Only by working together can we safeguard the most vulnerable, provide treatment support to those in need, and put criminals behind bars.”

According to the most recent statistics, drug related deaths in Middlesbrough tally 16.3 per 100,000 people compared to a rate 4.7 per 100,000 for the rest of England.

Middlesbrough Council wardens have saved nine lives in the past year using anti-opioid Naloxone kits.

Executive councillor Dorothy Davison said the extra cash was vital and would help work to reduce drug-related deaths.

She added: “Strong collaborations and partnerships are key to effectively tackling this wicked and deep-rooted problem, and this much-needed funding will enable us to build on the great work our substance misuse services are already doing.”

Other projects to tackle drugs and their impact are continuing across Teesside.

The Heroin Assisted Treatment (HAT) project, on Acklam Road, has been up and running since late 2019.

It aims to reduce street deaths caused by heroin and halt criminal reoffending estimated to cost the public purse more than £2m.

Teesside University is set to release a detailed independent report on the performance of the project soon.

Cllr Joan McTigue, chairman of the council’s health scrutiny panel, hailed the Project Adder cash as “manna from heaven”.

But she warned it would only have the desired effect if it was spent wisely.

“Let’s hope it is,” she added.

“At the same time, let’s hope that those who could benefit from it are willing to be helped.”

“Caught in the web”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said extra money to tackle drugs would help “cut the head off the snake” when cracking down on criminal drug gangs.

Steve Turner, Conservative candidate for Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), agreed – saying gangs created misery on Teesside.

The former councillor also called for tougher action against criminal suppliers – and believed money should not be predominantly spent on “individuals who are already caught up in the web of criminal activity”.

“This problem is rife in our area, our communities are suffering – that’s why we’re receiving this extra funding,” added Mr Turner.

“It’s so important that we don’t waste it.

“As your PCC, I will ensure this money is spent on taking drugs off our streets, first and foremost – not just on well meaning programmes that do little to tackle the problem at source.”

Labour candidate Dr Paul Williams also backed the cash.

He added: “As a doctor, I see the terrible harm that drug crime and drug use does to our community.

“We must be tough on crime, and tough on the causes of crime. This welcome funding does both.

“As PCC I would make sure our police, NHS and community groups utilise every possible weapon to reduce drug use and drug crime across Teesside – especially targeting drug gangs who prey on vulnerable people.”