Efforts to tackle drug and alcohol addiction in an East Lancashire borough have been rewarded with a nearly £4 million boost from the government with hopes high that more is on the way.

Blackburn with Darwen Council has received confirmation that it will get £3,914,000 in extra grants from Whitehall - more than it had expected.

In addition it hopes that a bid for £416,544 over the three years from 2022 to 2024 in a Rough Sleeping Drug and Alcohol Treatment Grant will be approved.

The cash will enable the local authority to enhance its £2.7m a year strategy to tackle drug and alcohol addiction approved in October last year.

The good news was hailed as a major boost to the drive to cut alcohol and drug misuse and addiction at Blackburn with Darwen's executive board meeting in Thursday night.

The senior councillors approved plans to spend the extra cash.

Borough health boss Councillor Damian Talbot said: "The need for this support is well-known.

"It is more important than ever to receive funds now to meet these challenges

"The Rough Sleeping Drug and Alcohol Treatment Grant had not been confirmed but we are hearing positive noises from the government.

"We welcome this additional investment into the Borough to support our renewed effort to address this problem.

"Substance use services are under significant strain following the financial climate over recent years. This has been further enhanced by the Covid-19 pandemic."

Cllr Mustafa Desai, the council's adult services boss, said: "Rehab does work. People have been able to turn the corner."

Opposition Conservative group leader Cllr John Slater said: "Treatment helps change people's lives and get them off substance abuse.

"This money is more than welcome."

The confirmed grants are:

Supplemental Substance Misuse Treatment and Recovery (SSMTR) Grant Funding £567,783in 2022/23, rising to £930,306 in year two and £1,795,698 in year three;

• Inpatient Detox Funding (IPD) £55,334 annual for three years; and

• Individual Placement Support (IPS) up to £148,395 annually for three years.

A report to the executive board from Cllr Talbot said: "The Supplemental Substance Misuse Treatment and Recovery Grant allocation for the Council is £3.294m in the period to 2024/25.

"The Inpatient Detoxification Grant is £166,000 for the period to 2024/25. The Individual Placement Support Funding is expected to be £148,000 each year for the next 3 years.

"The SSMTR Additional grant funding will be used achieve a reduced likelihood of drug and alcohol related deaths; a reduction in drug and alcohol related reoffending amongst prolific offenders; and increase in the numbers of drug and alcohol users, especially offenders, engaging in treatment.

"The IPD additional funding is to be used to further support the placement of appropriate service users into inpatient detox units and enable better integrated provision of residential rehabilitation for those requiring this support as part of their treatment and recovery interventions

"The IPS aims for sustained employment through mainstream competitive jobs. It works with anyone of working age engaged in structured treatment. IPS is highly personalised, features significant employer engagement, and offers in-work support in addition to pre-employment support.

"The Rough Sleeper Drug and Alcohol Treatment Grant will provide structured drug and alcohol treatment (including community treatment and inpatient detox and residential rehabilitation) for those experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness and rough sleeping with further wraparound and engagement support such as housing, physical health, wound care and mental health assessment and interventions.

"Alcohol and drug misuse impacts on acquisitive crime, violent crime and domestic abuse; lost productivity as most individuals seeking drug or alcohol treatment are unemployed; and homelessness.

"The costs of alcohol and drug misuse to society are significant.

"Drug treatment reflects a return on investment of £4 for every pound invested."