91Èȱ¬

It is "National Tackling Drugs week" and a NHS survey has revealed the number of people taken into hospital with a alcohol related issue has doubled since 1995, a statistic not likely to surprise health groups in Ealing though. DAAP is one such group, newly formed to tackle the growing alcohol and drugs problem in the area.

Based in Southall the group is sensitive to the needs of the large migrant population, they feel are not accessing the help that they desperately need. They've produced aÌý number of videos in Panjabi, Urdu, Mirpuri, Bengali (Sylhet) and Gujrati in a bid to reach out. In a report Perminder Dhillon from DAAP says:

"It has been evident for a number of years that Black and minority ethnic communities do not have the same access to appropriate and relevant drugs education, prevention and treatment services as the indigenous community. The lack of information and knowledge about drug misuse, coupled with community stigma creates, for many Asian parents a high level of fear about drugs."

As a part of this week's awareness campaign Paul Watson's ‘Rain in my heart’ has been screened at the Dominion Centre. The 91Èȱ¬ TV director also attended the conference to answer questions about his film. He said:

"I am proud to be associated with Drug and Alcohol Action Programme’sÌýgreat efforts to empower communities against addiction. I witnessed first hand the horror of alcohol addiction whilst making ‘Rain in my heart’. I hope that the campaign brings home to people the horrendous toll of alcohol addiction on the individual, the family, the community and society."

Knife Crime

DAAP believe the increase in knife crime is also related to drug and alcohol abuse. In a government report, DAAP reveal there has been a 37% rise in knife wounds treated by medics between 2003 and 2007 and that Ealing has now had more people stabbed in the borough than any other in London.Ìý

Your thoughts welcome, email:ramaa.sharma@bbc.co.uk