The programme aims to disrupt the UK's crack network

Schemes to combat the use of the drug are to be targeted on 37 areas across the country, identified under the government initiative.

Specially-tailored services are being set up to help existing addicts and prevent youngsters taking class A drugs.

The plan was announced on Wednesday by drugs minister Bob Ainsworth, and target areas include London, Manchester and Bristol.

Speaking on a visit to a drugs programme centre in Ladbroke Grove, west London, Mr Ainsworth said: "The same levels of crack use are not found nationwide.

The 37 areas targeted South East: Brent; Brighton and Hove; Camden; Croydon; Hackney; Hammersmith and Fulham; Haringey; Islington; Kensington and Chelsea; Lambeth; Lewisham; Newham; Oxford; Reading; Slough; Southwark; Tower Hamlets; Waltham Forest; Wandsworth; Westminster South West: Bristol; Midlands: Birmingham; Coventry; Derby; Stoke-on-Trent; Nottingham; Sandwell North: Bradford; Leeds; Liverpool; Manchester; Middlesbrough; Rochdale; Salford; Sheffield, Stockport; Trafford

"People living in the areas we identified already know crack is a problem in their community and know only too well the crime that crack brings with it.

"Crack addicts live chaotic lifestyles, they commit crimes and crack houses bring fear and degradation to neighbourhoods."

Mr Ainsworth said better drug treatment programmes will work alongside police operations to disrupt crack markets.

Areas were selected on a number of criteria, such as the number of crimes linked to crack abuse, amounts of the drug seized, and how many arrested people test positive for it.

Eric Feltin, of London's Blenheim Project, which was visited by Mr Ainsworth, said the centre had seen a 15% rise in crack use over the past five years.

"It's more popular amongst young people and the price of the drug has been coming down," he said.

'Psychological issues'

"The key thing is that the treatment needs to be different from that of heroin, where there is a medical alternative with methadone.

"Crack doesn't have an alternative, so you need to focus on the psychological issues using things like acupuncture."

The programme forms part of the Home Office Drugs Strategy that was published in December and involves an extra �500m in the budget to tackle drugs by 2005-2006.