A SCHEME to help young people tackle drug and alcohol abuse has been praised by the Government's Drugs Tsar, Keith Hellawell.

The anti-drugs commissioner singled out the Early Break project, based in Bury and Rochdale, for special mention in his annual report, published this week.

He said: "Supporting and enabling local communities to tackle drug-related problems in their locality has been a key area of our work. A total of £300 million was allocated to support local community projects in the Government's 2001 budget."

Early Break is part of the Government's ten-year anti-drugs strategy, and has been operating since 1994. The charity-registered project offers counselling, information, support to young people aged 18 and under, as well as their families or carers on any dry or alcohol-related issue.

Deputy services director of Early Break, Annette Gale, said: "We're absolutely thrilled to receive recognition in this way. It represents an important acknowledgment of the hard work and dedication of all those who've been involved in establishing the service in Bury and Rochdale over the last seven years."

Early Break's work is targeted particularly at young people most at risk within the community. Over the past year, the agency has been in contact with about 7,400 people. Referrals are taken direct from clients, their families and carers and from a range of statutory and voluntary sector agencies. They are dealt with within 24 hours. The scheme has recently introduced a Mobile Outreach Service.

Funding for the scheme is from Bury and Rochdale Health Authority, both Bury and Rochdale councils, as well as a grant from the National Lotteries Board and from the local education authority. The work done by Early Break will feature strongly in the new Young People's Substance Misuse Plans.