A VENUE near Swindon is to host a drugs seminar as Home Office figures show drug use has hit an all time high.

Nearly half of all young people have used illegal drugs according to the official figures, with average first time users in their early teens.

Druglink in Old Town helps over 500 people a year with drug addictions, while around 75 per cent of people using the Swindon and Wiltshire Alcohol and Drug Service for alcohol addiction also have drug addictions.

And the link between addiction and crime was highlighted last week when the Advertiser revealed how a one man crimewave, Peter Smith, a heroin addict, was jailed for four years for carrying out 57 burglaries across Swindon in just 10 months.

In response to this growing trend, a training day has been organised to help professionals such as teachers, social services staff and police officers to find out more about new drug trends and how they can educate young people about the danger of drug use.

Drugs education expert, Liam Watson, 37, will lead the seminar on April 19.

The lecturer in the department of health and social care at the University of West of England, said: "The day is part of a rolling programme across the UK.

"Even though Ecstasy has been around on the club scene for over 12 years, it remains an incredibly popular drug among young people.

"The price of the drug has come down to about £4 per pill whereas 10 years ago it was around £20."

Mr Watson explained that a mixture of factors is responsible for the huge drop in price. He said: "As more people demand the drug, the suppliers increase. There are many more local producers now. People don't have to wait for supplies from Amsterdam. There are now thousands of sites on the Internet detailing how to make Ecstasy, grow Cannabis and buy seeds."

New chemicals have now found their way onto the drug takers' shopping list, including Ketamine and GHB.

Glenys Armstrong, manager at Druglink, said: "These drugs are actually old but it is only recently that they have been put to abusive uses. The more information is made available to people about the effects of drugs, the better."

The course costs £85 and will be held at The Stanton Country House Hotel, The Avenue, Stanton Fitzwarren.

Anyone interested in attending the course, from 9.15am until 4.15pm, should contact Drugs Education Training on 02920 761396.