TREATMENT for drug addicts is “creaking” because of funding cuts.
That’s the verdict of Tony Cooke, senior commissioning and partnership manager of Kirklees Drug Action Team.
His group’s treatment budget has been cut from £3.5m to £3.2m this year.
Mr Cooke said: “As a result of reduction in funding, services are creaking and we’ve seen a slowing in the rate of improvement.”
He estimated there were 8-900 heroin and crack users in the district who are outside treatment.
Mr Cooke said: “We need to get them into treatment but there’s already significant stress on doctors, nurses and drug workers.”
He added there had people were moving from heroin to cocaine, crack and amphetamines.
