A FOOTBALL tournament has kicked off a week-long campaign to highlight the work being done to tackle drug abuse in Essex.

Ten teams, representing businesses as well as agencies working to help drug users and combat drug-related crime took part in the tournament, at Colchester United’s community stadium.

The event was organised by the Essex Drug and Alcohol Action Team to mark the start of the Government’s Tackling Drugs, Changing Lives campaign.

Call Assist, a car breakdown and recovery company, based in North Station Road, Colchester, beat the National Treatment Agency in the final.

Alison Keating, regional manager for the National Treatment Agency, said: “We need to bring a wide range of people together to tackle the effects of drugs on our communities.

“This football tournament was a positive example of providers, commissioners and service users coming together to have a bit of fun, but also show they are collectively addressing this problem.”

Ian Martin, the Government’s regional director for safer and stronger communities, said: “The aim of the week is to highlight the amazing initiatives going on on a daily basis to tackle the harm that drugs cause.

“It’s about treatment services working with young and older people, as well as law enforcement.

“Even people working in the area do not realise how much work is going on to the same end by different agencies, and we were very pleased to have local businesses at the event showing their support.”