A major survey is being carried out to measure the toll on Bradford social services of people's drug and alcohol problems.

A full-scale review aims to find the extent of substance misuse, including drugs, alcohol and glue sniffing, in a bid to deal with it.

Social services bosses say the problem is growing in line with other major cities and the extent of it must be gauged.

The review will advise on future needs for dealing with cases, and get figures which can be compared with similar authorities.

Officials say drug injecting is believed to be increasing in the Asian population, and among women, and the survey will pay special attention to them.

A senior social services officer will be appointed to deal with substance misuse, paid for through a partnership agreement.

Chairman of Bradford Council's Social Services Committee, Councillor John Godward, said: "It is of serious concern to me and it is reflected in the resources needed to deal with it."

Councillors heard:

MORE than 40 per cent of mothers and 11 per cent of fathers being dealt with by social services' children's division had drug or alcohol problems. This meant their children were more likely to go into care at an early age.

DAY-care and Mental Resource Centre staff said 14 per cent of their clients had problems because of drugs or alcohol.

THIRTEEN per cent of people assessed under the Mental Health Act in 1994 were misusing substances and this increased to 31 per cent two years ago.

MENTAL Health Social Workers estimated that 40 per cent of their caseloads involved substance misuse.

The survey was yesterday discussed at a meeting of the Council's services to people with disabilities sub-committee.

Sub-committee chairman Councillor Ghazanfer Khaliq said: "I welcome this which is the very first survey of its kind to be carried out in social services. I hope the outcome of the review helps whoever may be responsible for providing services."

The survey is hoped to produce firmer figures by the end of March.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.