A HEROIN addict who says a controversial NHS clinic has probably saved her life has urged the Government to fund “shooting galleries” across the UK.

Vicky, 36, has been a heroin addict since she was 24.

Before she enrolled on a Darlington-based pilot scheme, which provides two supervised shots of heroin every day, Vicky had reached rock bottom.

She relied on prostitution and shoplifting to pay for her daily fix of the drug.

Now healthy, and reunited with her family, Vicky said she could not understand why NHS shooting galleries had not been set up in every town and city.

Two weeks ago, researchers said the three centres offering free injectable heroin to addicts – in London, Brighton and Darlington – had all seen a huge reduction in crime committed by addicts, as well as a big drop in the amount of illicit street drugs purchased by people on the scheme.

Justice Secretary Jack Straw has called for the NHS to back shooting galleries in a bid to reduce crime.

Vicky is convinced the approach is the way forward.

“It has been going here for three years, and the results speak for themselves. Why isn’t there something like this in every town and city,” she said.

“I don’t think there is a single person on this scheme who hasn’t improved dramatically.

People have got proper accommodation.

They are eating properly, they are back with their families.

“When you need heroin you will do anything. I prostituted myself, I could have been raped or killed.”

Like many of the 45 addicts who attend the Darlington shooting gallery every day, Vicky has reduced the amount of heroin she injects.

The scheme costs £15,000 per addict per year, but this compares favourably with the £44,000 cost of keeping someone in prison for a year.

Consultant psychiatrist Dr Soraya Mayet, who is in charge of the Darlington project, said: “I would hope that we get another clinic in the North-East. When you see the change in people it is amazing.”

A Department of Health spokeswoman said: “Where these very hard to engage clients do not respond to other forms of treatment, it is right that we explore a range of approaches to help tackle their dependency on drugs.

“However, we also have a duty to provide the best value for taxpayers’ money with finite resources. We will build on new evidence of what works and maximise the range of effective approaches used.”