Drug Concern has published its annual report for 2003 and the new figures suggest use of the Class A narcotic is rising in the island.

Manager Tracey Rear said it was hard to tell if more people living in Guernsey are actually abusing the substance.

Alternatively, the figures could indicate that new services available to people with a drug dependency are proving successful.

She said: "It may be that there's been an increase in drug use in the island.

"But it may also mean that the new services which have come into play in the island are being utilised more.

"That's going to be a difficult thing to measure."