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The Iceni Project has been operating from its Fore Street base in Ipswich since 2000, offering support, advice and treatment to drug users.

As well as helping people in the aftermath of taking drugs, Iceni is proactive in building awareness of the dangers posed by drugs in Suffolk.

"The whole idea is to make people understand drugs," says Brian Tobin, manager of The Iceni Project.

"Especially here in Ipswich and Suffolk we need to go a long way to educate members of the public about what drugs are and how they affect the whole community."

One of the tools for this education is a portable box filled with 24 very realistic replicas of the drugs sold on the streets today. As well as a visual representation, the box details the risks attached to each drug as well as tell-tale signs to look out for in users.

The aim of the drug box is to make people realise that drugs affect all our lives, and that the whole community needs to muck in to make things better. "I get so frustrated when people say 'it's their fault and it only effects them'," Brian continues.

The Cornhill roadshow

"I reckon for every heroin addict, for example, at least 20 people are affected by that one person's use.

"You look at the huge amount of crime which drugs bring to this town - two out of three houses which are burgled are drug related. Perhaps we all know someone who's been burgled, if we haven't been burgled ourselves.

"We've got to get out of this idea that drug addiction is over there. It can affect anyone."

BBC/Iceni roadshow

BBC Suffolk held a drugs awareness week in June 2007.

Long-haired, scruffy hippy

Brian is also appealing for the public to change their perception of drug users being people separated from the rest of society, thinking of them as another species.

"The people who have been in for treatment with us are human beings. They're not the old idea of a long-haired, scruffy hippy with a needle in their arm down the subway.

"It's not like that anymore. Drug use is a blight on our society and we need to make people aware.

"Because it could be someone they know, or a family member of theirs who sadly succumb to drug addiction."

Frank advice

All parents will share the fear of their children becoming addicted to drugs, and many wouldn't know what to do if they discovered an illegal substance amongst their child's possessions.

Brian's message of support is there are people, including The Iceni Project, who can offer expert guidance before things get out of control.

Iceni Project, Ipswich

"It's tremendously difficult for a parent. Probably the last person they want to talk to is their mum and dad.

"I think the first reaction from a parent whose son is smoking cannabis, or they find a bong or something like that, is 'that's it - my son's or daughter's a druggy and their life is finished'. That's not the case.

"Government statistics tell us that a huge percentage of teenagers will try drugs and alcohol. It's a rites of passage for many.

"Very few of them will go on to become drug addicts - young people do some good stuff in this country, it's not all gloom and doom.

"So don't approach things in a heavy handed manner. Get some advice. Give us a ring, give other agencies a ring.

"Talk to Frank, the national organisation which helps. There is help out there but people just have to get over that shame and guilt thing associated with drugs. We've got to stop looking backwards.

"I would always encourage parents to keep communication levels open. I think every parent should try to understand about drugs, the effects, the cost, so they can have a credible conversation with teenagers.

"We owe it to our children to get information about drugs and other things which effect teenagers nowadays. Drugs are such a huge part of our society, whether we like it or not, and we're not going to be able to eradicate drugs so we've go to try and manage them better.

"Drug awareness should be part of the school syllabus. Good old Great Britain, we always tend to end up at the top of the league table at the worst things - be it teenage pregnancy, sexual diseases, drugs. We're never top of football, cricket or rugby!"

Joking aside, Brian is keen to emphasise that drugs are rife in Suffolk today. But, as part of The Iceni Project, he's committed to making things that little bit easier for those struggling with life after a stimulated high.

"If people want to get drugs, they'll get drugs. You can walk within five minutes in either direction from this centre and score drugs. They're that prolific in our society at the moment.

"Getting off drugs is difficult. Getting help for drugs isn't difficult. Not in this day in age. There is support out there."
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Lesley Dolphin will be presenting her lunchtime show live from the Iceni Project on Thursday 28 June. You can listen to BBC Radio Suffolk using the 'Listen Live' link on the right >>