Toll of drug deaths; MEMORIAL: Friends and families in moving tributes to remember victims.

Byline: Tony Collins

FRIENDS and family of people who died as a result of drug misuse paid a moving tribute to them at a special ceremony.

People were invited to write messages about those they have lost before hanging them on an apple tree, which has been planted in the garden at The Welcome, in Chelmsley Wood, which is part of Solihull Integrated Addictions Service.

The event was held on Tuesday to mark International Remembrance Day, in recognition of those who have died from substance misuse.

Solihull borough has around 1,000 'problematic' drug users, with around 700 of them currently being treated by the addictions service. Colin Bartlett, a service user representative at the Welcome, said: "SIAS has turned my life around. It has given me the chance to lead a good life and reunite with my family."

The Solihull addictions service is made up of registered charity Welcome, counselling service Str8 Up for under-18s, the Drug Intervention Programme, and The Bridge substitute prescribing and health-care service within Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust.

For information about drug treatment within Solihull, call the free helpline on 0121 678 4730, or contact Str8 Up on 0121 788 5390.