Heroin, cocaine, amphetamines, and cannabis are all drugs which are causing problems on our streets.

News Guardian reporter Tegan Chapman went to North Shields police station to learn more about the Home Office's National Tackling Drugs week which runs until Friday, May 23.

Northumbria Police are backing the week which is aimed at raising awareness of the work of police and other agencies to tackle drugs and reduce drug-related crime.

Supt Ralph Logan told the News Guardian: "We are committed through Total Policing to disrupting the illegal supply of drugs into our region, closing crack houses and cannabis farms, and reducing drug related crime.

"We should not lose sight of the fact that drug dealers profit from the misery of others. Drugs destroy the lives of people who use them but those involved in dealing do not care about that.

"Northumbria Police is committed to taking the fight to the dealers, placing them before the courts and depriving them of their liberty as well their assets obtained through the misery of others.

"But the work doesn't end there. We support the work of partner agencies such as Turning Point, and the Crime and Disorder Reduction
Partnerships to deliver drug advice and information to communities, families and young people." Turning Point Team Leader Tracey Domoney said there is a lot of positive work across Northumberland to support those people affected by drug misuse.

"Services are in place to provide treatment to those individuals who are using drugs, but also to offer a range of support to families affected by substance misuse," she said.

"Turning Point provides services for people with complex needs, including those affected by drug and alcohol misuse, mental health problems and those with a learning disability.

"For every £1 spent on drug treatment, £9.50 is saved from drug-related crimes, so treatment is very worthwhile."

Turning Point's substance misuse senior advisor Harry Walker added: "We particularly welcome the Government's emphasis today on the social harms of using cocaine, and would encourage a similar focus on tackling heroin and crack use.

"However, working with someone to tackle their substance misuse is only part of the answer: The crucial factor is to focus on people's whole picture of needs such as lack of employment and housing.

"The Government must tackle these wider issues, not as an add-on, but as a vital integrated tool to really turn lives around.

"Awareness campaigns are a vital way of informing people about the harm that drugs can do. What's needed in addition is a commitment by
Government to be ambitious for drug users and former drug users.

"Tackling drug problems is also about supporting people to re-engage back into society. We want to see many more current or former drug users going on to live productive lives in their communities."

In the past two years detectives have seized 57 kilos of heroin, 21 kilos of cocaine, 30,000 ecstasy tablets, 48 kilos of amphetamines, 1220 kilos of cannabis resin and 500 kilos of cannabis plants in a series of major operations, officers have also seized 3,000 rounds of ammunition and eight firearms.

Financial investigators have been targeting drug dealers in the community and removing their assets. Between August 2006 and March 2008 113 confiscation orders were made by local courts with a total value of almost £1.5m.

And this is making a real improvement to people's lives.

To build on this success Neighbourhood policing teams are working directly with communities to ensure their concerns are acted on and making the most of local information to identify drug dealers and disrupt markets.

Positive Response to Overcoming Problems of Substance misuse (PROPS) on North Tyneside is organising the event where service workers will be available to meet users and carers, answer questions and give advice.

PROPS spokesperson Nicola Mansfield Jones said: "The aim of the event is to raise carers' awareness about drug and alcohol agencies in North Tyneside.

"It will provide an opportunity for carers and other service users to find out more information about the agencies involved in providing support with drug and alcohol issues from the agencies themselves".

Agencies involved in the event include those offering treatment, care
and rehabilitation, housing support, mental health services, education, training and employment services and support for carers.

Those taking part are PROPS, support for the carers and family of drug and alcohol users, Turning Point, NECA/SHARP (North East Council on Addictions/North Tyneside needle exchange service), Phoenix Futures, a provider of care and rehabilitation services for people with drug and alcohol problems in the UK, N2L (Never Too Late), a young people's drug and alcohol service, Lighthouse Project, which provides essential housing related support, Mind, the National Association for Mental Health, Progress to Work, which provides support, advice and guidance to people aged 16 - 60 years with a history of illicit substance missuse to help them access education, training and employment, and the Carers Centre, which supports the young carers of drug and alcohol users and generic carers.

The event will be held on Friday, May 23 between 12.30pm and 2.30pm at the Meadows Community Centre, Waterville Road, North Shields.

Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker added: "National Tackling Drugs Week is about highlighting the vital everyday work that goes on everyday across the country to cut drug use. I want to congratulate those who go that extra mile to help thwart drug supply and encourage young people to stay away from drugs.

"We can only do this through tough enforcement combined with powerful education and drug awareness campaigns like FRANK, and, where necessary, tailored treatment to get users off drugs for the benefit of them, their families and their communities.

"We have achieved a great deal: overall drug use has fallen in the last 11 years while drug related crime has fallen by a fifth since 2003. We will continue to bear down hard on dealers while educating young people about the dangers of illegal substances."

To contact your local officer ring 03456 043 043 and ask to speak to your Neighbourhood team, or for free professional advice ring FRANK on 0800 77 66 00.