A MAJOR drugs conference in the North-East heard yesterday how the key to cutting addiction was better local services.

The conference, at the Samsung Centre, Wynyard, Teesside, attracted about 100 delegates from across the private and public sector.

Robin Burgess, from the Home Office Drugs Strategy Team, told the conference that providing local services was one of the key weapons in the battle against drugs.

"The drugs culture is a destructive force. It diminishes the lives of individuals, undermines families and people's employment and training prospects," he said.

"We have to have drop-ins and outreach projects - without the need to go into the centre of town for help.

"We have to bring access to them in a language and culture they understand."

The conference, organised by the North-East Drugs Prevention Advisory Service (DAPAS), was held in response to a new Home Office report, A Rock and a Hard Place, which called for more local solutions.

Delegates included people from the fire service, police, learning and skills councils, local authorities, health and probation.

Fiona Young, North-East DPAS manager, said progress would only be achieved by better co-ordination between agencies tackling drugs issues in deprived communities, and those tackling regeneration.