The National Statistics Office say that substance abuse, heroin addiction and substance misuse in the UK are the highest in Europe.There have been several reports, which estimate that the cost of continued, uncontrolled and supported drug addiction currently stands at over £13 billion in crime, policing and treatment programmes, every year.

To combat the problem there are a number of initiatives that the government has established, including programmes and treatments, which are designed to reduce the number of people, addicted to drugs.Whether it is prescription, over the counter medication or illegal Class A narcotics, such as heroin or cocaine, there is the provision of an advice helpline, support groups and treatment clinics.

Combating drug addiction is not an easy task; the very addiction itself causes suspicion, secrecy and fear.As a result, even taking the first steps towards kicking a drug habit can be difficult.There are professionally trained medical staff who can assess your personal situation and recommend an appropriate course of action.

The best results in treating drug addiction is a combination of therapies, which include medical assisted detox, cognitive therapy, group and one to one counselling sessions and constant support throughout the process.The provision of rehabilitation can be part of a residential care routine, outpatient support or home based treatment, all designed to suit individual circumstances.

The first step in accessing the appropriate medical assistance is to realise you have a drug problem and discuss the options that are open to you with a trained Drug Rehabilitation Counsellor.

Drug dependency is a major and ever increasing concern within modern society; attitudes towards drug use are at their most liberal for decades and there are an ever-increasing variety of substances available, including illegal drugs, medical treatments or plain recreational relaxants.In 2009, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimated that, globally, there were 15.3 million cases of drug dependency.

The WHO defines drug dependency as “a cluster of cognitive, behavioural and physiological symptoms that indicate that a person has impaired control of psychoactive substance use and continues despite adverse consequences.”

Over the last decade Home Office figures show there has been a significant increase in the use of heroin in the UK and drug abuse continues to grow at an alarming rate, with use doubling every four years since 1990.Drugs charities estimate that the average user in the UK spends £100 a day supporting their habit.The speed at which this highly addictive drug takes hold of a person’s life is rapid.This means that it does not take long for someone to go from being an occasional, social user, to a full time addict, desperately seeking that first rush again.

Heroin dependency has been proven to completely alter a person’s mindset to the extent that, in a matter of months, they can go from a rational human being to someone whose whole existence is based around acquiring the necessary money to feed their heroin addiction.