In areas of poverty and deprivation, where drug-related problems are most severe, attempts at regeneration are doomed to failure if the needs of drug users and their families and friends are ignored.

Work is in progress to tackle the problem.

The government is funding Communities Against Drugs, an initiative to engage and retain local people in the management of drug abuse treatment.

The National Treatment Agency has a remit to increase the availability, capacity and effectiveness of treatment and to oversee improvements in service delivery, reform and modernisation.

Other approaches are being tested:

Positive Futures teams involving young people in sports as a means of early intervention with hard-to-reach groups;

Proactive Arrest Referral Schemes identifying drug-using offenders and referring them on for treatment.

There is also a growing recognition that black and minority ethnic drug users require culturally sensitive services.

The challenge is to co-ordinate the policies and activities of diverse agencies and community groups, and to involve drug users and carers more directly.

Housing has a particularly important part to play in helping users to overcome drug problems, and social landlords need to be more involved in developing strategies to increase available hostel places, move-on and permanent accommodation.

This seminar is an opportunity for policy-makers, housing providers and those working with drug problems in the community to learn from each others' experience and establish common ground.