Kent has nearly 4,000 drug addicts – but most are getting the treatment they need.

The NHS National Treatment Agency (NTA) has revealed an extra thousand people have approached them this year for help overcoming substance abuse.

The number of people aged over 16 in treatment for drug use has risen by almost 1,000 in the last 12 months to 3,693, but the NTA claims it shows people who've needed treatment in the past are finally getting access to it.

~Listen: Finton Hayes tells of the types of treatment available>>>

That is an increase of 37 per cent seeking help across the county.

Finton Hayes, regional manager of the NTA said: “We were concerned last year that people needing treatment in Kent weren’t being reached, but I’m delighted to see such an improvement.

“It’s not that more people are taking drugs, it’s that more people are getting help. The length of time that people are staying in treatment has also gone up about 12 per cent.”

Mr Hayes added that the high number of addicts was also due to the size of county, but that Kent did not see as many problems with drugs like crack cocaine as some inner city areas do.