As crime agencies focus on today;s Tackling Drugs Changing Lives Day, one former user has told of his experiences before and after his addiction.

With the introduction of Drug Rehabilitation Requirements (DRR) in the Criminal Justice Act 2005, court orders can now offer tailored treatment and rehabilitation.

"I started on drugs like cannabis when I was 12 but I got on to heroin by the time I was 15," said Liam, now 24.

He was first convicted in 1998, after being caught shoplifting to feed his habit.

This was the beginning of a link between drug abuse and crime Liam thought he would never be able to break until he was made the subject of a DRR in January.

He said: "At first you think you're all right but it gets a grip on you and it gets to a point where you need it more than once a day and then the addiction causes family breakdowns and you cannot ask them for money so you are having to offend to support your habit.

"I'm not offending now and that is because I do not have a drug addiction.

"Before I got on this DRR, I just thought I would be in prison and still offending to support my habit, or worse - I could be dead.

"I never thought I would be thinking about doing NVQs and putting negative tests in, I just thought I would live in and out of prison.

"Prison helped keep me off the street but when I got out again I was right back to square one."

He continued: "I got offered probation but I never progressed in it. I always missed my appointments and did not have a good attitude.

"I never really dealt with issues of why I was doing drugs. I thought I knew better and I wouldn't accept the help offered."

Since the order was made, Liam has been assigned a treatment worker and probation officer, is provided with counselling and is drug-tested twice a week.

He has also been moved into supported accommodation at Agape House, Bradford Road, Idle, where random drug tests are held.

He has now been drug free for nearly five months - the longest he has been without heroin since he was 15.

He has reduced his methadone intake, regularly plays football, goes to the gym and is looking forward to starting an NVQ in Waste Management later this year.

Sarah Atkin, Liam's probation officer, said sticking to a DRR was not the easiest option.

She said: "Custody means you give up your responsibilities to somebody else and nothing changes. This is different.

"That isn't to say we don't get people on the order who do not give it their all - that is when custody should come into the equation."

Neil Maloney, assistant chief officer for the Bradford area of West Yorkshire Probation, said the service was proud of its track record of achievement.

Mrs Atkin said success was defined by both the number of people who stop using, and the amount by which others reduce their habit.

She said: "Our job is to provide rehabilitation and public protection and it serves both aims if users reduce their habit."