The region has the highest number of addicts getting treatment

Nearly 28,000 people received treatment between April 2003 and March 2004 said the Centre for Public Health, based at Liverpool John Moores University.

Centre director Mark Bellis said the figures suggested the region had a large heroin and crack problem.

"But there's a success story as well in here as we're getting a lot more people into treatment," he said.

Rather than being sent to jail they are being sent for some form of treatment Mike Linnell, Lifeline

"And that means better prospects for them, less involvement in criminality and better health," added Mr Bellis.

The figures show 27,909 people getting drug treatment a 25% increase on the period 2001 to 2002.

The centre also states that more people from the region are "in contact with drug treatment services" than from any other English region.

Nearly a quarter of the national total of addicts receiving treatment are from the North West according to the report.

Mike Linnell from the North West based drugs charity Lifeline said a lot more people are accessing treatment through new ways.