DRUGS FEATURE: Martin (not his real name) is desperately waiting for a course of methadone to help combat his £50-a-day habit.

He was put on a Drug Treatment and Testing order two weeks ago for shoplifting, and fears it will be weeks before he can see a GP.

In the meantime, his addiction is spiralling out of control, and he is now on five bags of heroin a day.

"I was supposed to see my GP as soon as the programme started," he said. "At the moment, I'm just getting worse and worse, and I'm shoplifting again to pay for my drugs.

"It's not just me either, I know lots of people who have been waiting longer than me.

"All I want to do is get clean, get back to work, and be a productive member of society again. They have got to do something about the waiting times. Ten to 11 weeks is too long."

Martin, who is mid-20 and lives in Swindon, has been on heroin and crack for seven years.

Before getting into the cycle of drugs and crime, he had a normal life, and worked as a fitter. As part of his DTTO, he is receiving counselling at Druglink.