A PIONEERING family drugs service will officially launch in Huddersfield on Thursday.

The Kirklees Family Drugs Service is the first of its kind in the country.

It aims to help the estimated 4,000 to 5,000 people in the district who are affected by having a dependent drug or alcohol-user living with or in their family.

The service is managed by team leader Tom Brailsford from Lifeline Kirklees. It will launch at the McAlpine Stadium on Thursday and at Dewsbury Town Hall on Thursday March 18.

Mr Brailsford said: "Our aim is to be a rapid response unit and one-stop shop for families affected by substance misuse.

"It aims to address the needs of brothers, sisters, parents and grand- parents that are affected by substance misuse."

The three-year project will be funded by the government's Children's Fund.

Counselling sessions, group work and family mediation aim to lessen the impact of drug use on the family and reduce the risk of family breakdown.

The service will also focus on the needs of young children aged five to 13 years who have parents with a substance misuse problem.

Mr Brailsford said it was the first time an agency had taken a holistic approach to the problems of family substance misuse and the project was being carefully monitored at a national level.

He said: "An integral part of the service will be reflecting the needs of children who are affected by substance misuse, therefore a children's steering group is in the process of being set up and we would welcome interest from children who may want to participate in this."