DRUGS are a sad fact of modern life and wishing them away won't solve anything.

Instead, hard work and intelligence are needed to control and limit the damage drugs do to society.

This is why police in North Yorkshire have been pioneering a fresh approach to tackling drugs - something which is worth remembering as we report on what appears to be an alarming increase in the use of crack cocaine in York.

Crack cocaine is a crystallised form of cocaine. It is considered to be particularly dangerous because it delivers an "instant hit" which can turn users into addicts after just one try.

Because some of those trying crack could already be heroin users, it is possible that addicts in the city may be developing a double habit. Such a twin dependency is expensive to maintain, with some estimates putting the figure as high as £250 a day.

It is not possible to find such sums legally, so many addicts turn to crime to fund their habit. This is why drugs, and their apparent easy availability, remain a major problem to society. Use of hard drugs may not be widespread in the general public, but the problems associated with drugs affect many people.

Many of the crimes that blight our daily lives, from burglaries and theft to shoplifting and mugging, can be traced to drugs and the desperate need users have to raise money.

Police in North Yorkshire are leading the way with a revolutionary new 'holistic' approach to drugs. A new 20-strong drugs squad, led by Detective Inspector Ian Wills, was established in October. This aims to tackle dealers and suppliers while also offering help to users. Arrests are still important to the drug squad - but so too is getting addicts off drugs with the help of other agencies in the county.

If we think we can completely eradicate drugs, we are not accepting reality. However, if we recognise that drugs are here, we can then start looking for intelligent responses to the problem.

Fortunately for us all, that is exactly what is happening in North Yorkshire.

Updated: 11:13 Wednesday, December 12, 2001