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| Heroin usage 'twice in Valleys' | Heroin usage 'twice in Valleys' |
| (about 23 hours later) | |
| Nearly twice as many people are taking heroin in former coalfield areas than elsewhere in Wales, research has shown. | |
| The study reveals 2.8 people per thousand in the valleys had asked for treatment for heroin use compared with 1.5 per thousand in the rest of Wales. | The study reveals 2.8 people per thousand in the valleys had asked for treatment for heroin use compared with 1.5 per thousand in the rest of Wales. |
| Plaid AM Leanne Wood, who commissioned the research, wants a review of problem drug and alcohol users' services. | Plaid AM Leanne Wood, who commissioned the research, wants a review of problem drug and alcohol users' services. |
| Ministers said spending on substance misuse had risen by 660% in five years and a new strategy was being developed. | Ministers said spending on substance misuse had risen by 660% in five years and a new strategy was being developed. |
| But Ms Wood, a former probation officer, warned that existing services were "not dealing with this worsening problem". | But Ms Wood, a former probation officer, warned that existing services were "not dealing with this worsening problem". |
| The research, conducted by the assembly parliamentary service, covers the period between April 2005 and December 2006. | The research, conducted by the assembly parliamentary service, covers the period between April 2005 and December 2006. |
| People who live in the former coalfields of Wales continue to suffer the effects of the pit closure programmes Leanne Wood AM | People who live in the former coalfields of Wales continue to suffer the effects of the pit closure programmes Leanne Wood AM |
| Former coalfield communities are defined as Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Merthyr Tydfil, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Swansea and Torfaen. | Former coalfield communities are defined as Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Merthyr Tydfil, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Swansea and Torfaen. |
| Ms Wood has written to social justice minister Dr Brian Gibbons to ask for an investigation of services available for addicts. | Ms Wood has written to social justice minister Dr Brian Gibbons to ask for an investigation of services available for addicts. |
| "This research shows that people who live in the former coalfields of Wales continue to suffer the effects of the pit closure programmes," she said. | "This research shows that people who live in the former coalfields of Wales continue to suffer the effects of the pit closure programmes," she said. |
| "Not only does this problem affect the lives of those who use heroin, it also affects the lives of all those who live in these communities. | "Not only does this problem affect the lives of those who use heroin, it also affects the lives of all those who live in these communities. |
| "They suffer from high property crime levels associated with high levels of heroin use," she added." | "They suffer from high property crime levels associated with high levels of heroin use," she added." |
| 'Substantial increase' | 'Substantial increase' |
| Ms Wood said she was "encouraged" by the Labour-Plaid assembly government's approach to tackling drugs. | Ms Wood said she was "encouraged" by the Labour-Plaid assembly government's approach to tackling drugs. |
| But she warned that there was a "long way to go" before former coalfield areas could "shake off the damaging effects of previous economic neglect". | But she warned that there was a "long way to go" before former coalfield areas could "shake off the damaging effects of previous economic neglect". |
| A Welsh Assembly Government spokesperson said it recognised the importance of tackling all forms of substance misuses. | A Welsh Assembly Government spokesperson said it recognised the importance of tackling all forms of substance misuses. |
| A statement said ministers had "acknowledged this through the significant additional investment made to increase access and availability to treatment services in Wales. | A statement said ministers had "acknowledged this through the significant additional investment made to increase access and availability to treatment services in Wales. |
| "In 2007/08 the substance misuse action fund stands at £22m. This substantial increase of 660% since 2002/03 has created over 9,300 treatment places since 2004. | "In 2007/08 the substance misuse action fund stands at £22m. This substantial increase of 660% since 2002/03 has created over 9,300 treatment places since 2004. |
| "The Welsh Assembly Government is in the process of developing a new substance misuse strategy for Wales to replace the current strategy from May 2008," the statement concluded. | "The Welsh Assembly Government is in the process of developing a new substance misuse strategy for Wales to replace the current strategy from May 2008," the statement concluded. |