DRUG addicts in Redbridge could turn to crime, an adviser has warned, after the money spent on treating them was slashed.

The Department of Health have cut the borough's drugs treatment grant by £90,000 and further reductions could be on the way.

Former alcoholic Chris Day is chairman of Redbridge Service Users Forum and sits on the board of the Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT).

He said: "These cuts mean wrap-around services for drug users and alcoholics in the borough are likely to be reduced.

"These services help people get help they need with accessing housing and employment advice, and if we lose them they will have to look for other ways to survive, such as through crime.

"Most of these people are not in full time employment, so would most likely have to turn to crime to get the money they need. Our 'Revolve' training and empowerment scheme which trains service users who have become abstinent to be treatment counsellors has already closed and others may follow.

"We have four other services all designed to identify users' housing problems and help them get into education and work. If they were withdrawn, where would these people go?"

A Redbridge Council spokeswoman said that if more people entered drug treatment and remained in the programme for the full 12 weeks, then more funding could be available in the future, and that they feel this goal is achievable.

Funding stood at £1.69 million in 2008 but will fall to £1.6 million next year and is projected to drop to £1.26 million by 2011.

There are 729 addicts currently receiving treatment through Redbridge DAAT but it is estimated that a further 435 are not seeking help.

A spokeswoman for the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA) - which allocates funds on behalf of the Department of Health - said the changes would make service distribution fairer.

"In London, investment in drug treatment has risen from £13m in 2001 to £86m in 2008, which has delivered massive improvements in drug treatment across London.

"From 2008/09 funding will largely be allocated on a per person treated basis. This will direct resources to those boroughs with the highest number of people in treatment and ensure that we maximise benefits to the community."