Drug abuse is now a fact of modern life, but as Bradford is showing, that is no reason to just accept it.

A new campaign called Tackling Drugs, Changing Lives has begun working in the district and it is helping record numbers of drug users to get the treatment they need to help them kick their addictions.

Of course, those who use the drugs are only the end of a very long chain involving dealers, organised gangs and importers.

This new campaign is taking a blanket approach to the problem and rather than just targeting one aspect of the drugs trade, it is drawing together different agencies to maintain a sustained assault on the scourge.

Drugs workers, health professionals, the local authority and the police are all pooling their expertise and intelligence to make a real difference to those whose lives are blighted by drugs.

Accepting they have a problem and seeking treatment is the first step for addicts to take if they want to get on the road to recovery, and so far more than 3,000 of them have taken up the challenge under the auspices of the new campaign.

The police, as well as targeting the drug dealers and gangs, are also trying to break the cycle of criminal addiction by drugs testing anyone arrested for crimes such as burglary and robbery and referring them to drugs programmes.

With such a joined-up approach, it is hopeful that real inroads will be made into tackling the problem that affects so many lives.