NOBODY in life sets out to be an alcohol or drug addict, says Con Twomey.

But for those who do find that they are losing control of their lives, St Saviour's Addiction Rehabilitation Centre can help.

The centre, with Con as project director, is based in Chipping Campden - not the first place many would think of when asked to come up with somewhere in need of such a centre.

Yet the heroin-fuelled death last month in Willersey of a young man at the age of 24 shows that the problems of drugs and drink have touched almost every community.

"The north Cotswolds is in need of all the services it can get with regard to alcohol and drug abuse," said Con.

"People like to think that places like Chipping Campden, Broadway and Moreton don't have a drink or drugs problem, but they are part of the national statistics and the universal problem"

He added: "In every community there is a serious problem with alcohol and drugs that needs to be treated with the same respect as other illnesses."

Some people in rural towns and villages still do not realise the extent of the problems, he said, or believe that alcohol abuse in particular is something that affects only down and outs.

St Saviour's, which despite its name has no religious affiliations whatsoever, has been running for two years and is in the process of applying for official charitable status. So great is the problem locally that the demand for its services is now exceeding its capabilities and the centre is in need of funds to allow it to expand its treatment programmes.

Open two days and two evenings each week, its team of trained counsellors work with the addicts who come to it for help. An initial intensive programme of counselling, group sessions and education is then followed by several months where people come less regularly, using the centre to provide the support they need to stay "clean."

A family group also meets once a week at Moreton Hospital, as Con firmly believes that addiction is a family illness with the family of the addict bearing the brunt of the problems associated with that addiction.

All clients of the centre have to come with the support of their GP and Con says that they now have very close working relationships with the medical practices in Campden and the surrounding villages.

"We aim to provide a very high standard of care, but we are desperately in need of funding."

The centre is also looking for professional people, such as accountants, who are willing to lend some of their expertise in support of its activities.

St Saviour's can be contacted by calling 01386 841029 or by writing to PO Box 27, Chipping Campden Glos, GL55 6YD.

- VALE of Evesham people have an active Parents & Addicts Support Team (PAST) based at Wallace House in the town. The group was set up last year in the wake of a series of meetings with parents concerned about the growing problem of drug and alcohol abuse.

For further details contact Linda Huggan on 01386 446580. Turning Point, which has a family support network for the whole of Worcestershire, also operates a needle exchange service in Evesham Community Hospital. For further details contact staff on 01905 724853.

- PEOPLE seeking support for drug or alcohol problems in Stratford can contact a number of organisations in the area .

For drug problems contact:

Stratford Community Drug Team, 7 Waterside on 01789 261800, opening hours Tuesday to Friday, 10am -7pm and 4-8pm on Thursdays; or

Family and Friends, 2a Church Terrace, Leamington Spa, on its helpline number 01926 887414. Opening times are Monday, 10am-10pm and Tuesday to Friday, 7-10pm; or

Warwickshire Health Authority Drug Action Team on 901926 493491 ext 249 (office hours).

For alcohol problems contact:

The Alcohol Advisory Service, Augusta Place, Leamington Spa, on 01926 885000.

For general substance misuse problems contact:

The substance misuse unit at Woodleigh Beeches, Warwick Hospital on 01926 410281.