By Jennifer Bradbury THE murder of Dillon Hull put the spotlight on Bolton's drug problem. But how widespread is it? And is it worse than other towns?

According to a recent Home Office report Bolton has been identified as the one area in the North- west which is experiencing a heroin epidemic amongst its young people.

But, Sandie Nesbitt, drugs co-ordinator of Bolton's Drug Action Team, says Bolton's drug problem is no worse than other urban towns.

In Bolton the most popular illegal drugs with addicts tends to be heroin. Cocaine and crack do not seem to have caught on in the same way.

As Sandie explains: "That's why in reports on heroin Bolton tends to be singled out. But we don't have a crack cocaine problem like they do in areas like Trafford."

Bolton also doesn't suffer the HIV epidemic associated with heroin addiction, that places like Edinburgh have experienced. And that's down in great part to the borough's policy on limiting the sharing of needles.

Bolton's drug problem is relatively new when compared to large cities like Manchester, Liverpool and Edinburgh, which tend to have a much longer history of drug related problems.

The influx of drugs into the Bolton area first became apparent in the early 90s when there was a huge increase in the number of people seeking help for their addiction.

In 1988 Bolton's Community Drug Team (CDT) recorded 250 episodes of treatment. This had soared to 1,086 by 1995.

Sandie says that one of the reasons for the huge rise was the increasing availability of cheap heroin which flooded the UK market from countries like Afghanistan.

However, latest figures suggest the heroin problem has now reached a plateau. In 1996 the number of people seeking help from the CDT had fallen to 861 and in 1997 this had fallen once again to 836.

But there is no room for complacency. As Sandie says, there are many vulnerable youngsters out there, prime targets for the drug pushers.

According to Sandie, the town's CDT is amongst the best in the country, particularly in terms of accessibility.

And in conjunction with various agencies, including the probation, social and health services, it is making efforts to reduce the heroin problem through education and prevention.

And it's the four vulnerable groups highlighted that the Drug Action Team are actively targeting. Just recently a specialist worker, funded by Social Services, was recruited to work with these particular groups. It's one of the first such posts in the country.

Another new initiative, due to be introduced in December, is the Custody Liaison Project.

As Sandie explains: "At the moment we are training custody sergeants to do brief assessments of people in their custody. They assess whether the person would benefit from help from the CDT. If it's deemed that they would benefit, a worker from CDT would be called on to do a more in-depth assessment. The next morning they can then make a recommendation to the magistrate that treatment for drug addiction should be included in the sentence."

And it's hoped that this pilot scheme will not only get more people into treatment earlier, but that it will reduce crime.

"It's a fact that while in treatment people commit fewer or no crimes."

But she says that despite the acclaimed work carried out by the CDT in partnership with other agencies in the town, ordinary people have a part to play in the war against drugs.

"Every member of the community has a responsibility in regard to drugs. That's what we want to take forward. The community as a whole needs to take on board the drug problem.

"It's not just an issue for the experts. One thing that parents need to do, is to make themselves more aware so that they can get involved in educating their children about drugs." THE Drug Action Team has identified four vulnerable groups who are more likely to become heroin addicts.

Young people who are excluded from or not attending school.

Young people who are homeless.

Young people who are in care.

Young people who are in touch with the criminal justice system.

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