A DRUGS project which helps rehabilitate addicts in South Gloucestershire has been named the best in the country.

The Healthcare Commission and the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse ranked the region’s drug action team top out of 148 similar schemes.

The team, which includes staff from South Gloucestershire Council, NHS South Gloucestershire and other local partners, scored highest for its rehabilitation services receiving an ‘excellent’ rating.

Treatment co-ordinator Matthew Wills, for South Gloucestershire, said: "This is a fantastic achievement for South Gloucestershire’s drug action team, our partners and service providers and good news for our residents and communities.

"I am proud that all the specialist services we commission are with individuals’ needs in mind, so that we fully understand and cater for our service users’ diverse needs.

"Giving people choice and flexibility in their treatment is, I believe, key to our success."

During the review, South Gloucestershire drug action team were asked a series of questions and the individual detoxification and rehabilitation services were also reviewed.

Overall, the partnership scored 95.35 percent and was rated as excellent. Nationally only 15 percent of local drug partnerships were rated excellent, 72 percent were rated good and 13 per cent fair.