A RECORD number of North-East problem drug users have had specialist treatment for their addiction, according to new figures.

Nearly 7,000 drug users received specialist treatment during the last financial year.

Statistics published by the National Treatment Agency showed that about one in three drug users who contacted services remained in structured treatment for 12 weeks or more.

Evidence suggests that treatment during this period is more likely to be effective.

Waiting times for drug treatment in the North-East have also fallen from an average of 9.3 weeks in December, 2001, to 1.7 weeks in June, 2004.

Experts estimate that there are about 16,500 problem drug users in the region with 6,948 recently undergoing treatment.

The announcement comes in the same week that the Government confirmed that an additional £15m of funding will be invested in drug services in the North-East during the next three years.

This represents an increase in Department of Health funding for the region from £16m in the current financial year to £31m in 2007-2008.

The number of staff working in the drug treatment sector also jumped from 458 in 2002 to 619 this year.

Middlesbrough had the highest number of people receiving treatment (1,023) last year closely followed by Durham (967).

The areas with the fewest people receiving treatment in the region were Darlington (355) and Hartlepool (366).

Authorities estimate there are up to 350,000 problem drug users in England.