According to a new report, 116 people in the county were hospitalised after taking drugs in 2006/7 – the second highest figure in the East of England.

But Chip Somers, chief executive of Focus12, Bury St Edmunds drug rehabilitation centre, said he was surprised the number was not higher, while Simon Aalders, Suffolk's drug and alcohol action team co-ordinator, said the figures suggested people were being diagnosed effectively.

According to the statistics, released by the NHS Information Centre, 10 per cent of adults nationally used illegal drugs in 2006/7, while 10 per cent of 11 to 15-year-olds questioned in 2007 said they had taken drugs in the last month.

Across England and Wales there were 10,047 hospital admissions from drug poisoning in 2006/7 – up from 7,057 in 1996/7.

Mr Somers said: "I think the only surprise is that the figures are as low as they are.

"We're experiencing a huge increase in the number of people who are misusing drugs, so you're going to have an increase in the number of people admitted to hospital.

"We're absolutely indundated with patients. We can take 22 people at a time and we have got a waiting list at the moment."

He added: "I think it's a bit of a lost cause trying to rid society of drugs, but we can try to make society a more pleasant place to live and improve the education we give people."

Mr Aalders, who co-ordinates the county's drug and alochol service, said drug use had increased year on year, with 1,480 people treated in Suffolk in 2007/8, compared to 1,210 the year before.

"If the figure was really low we would be more concerned, because we would be wondering whether people were being missed," he said.

"These statistics are encouraging, because they show the system is working and people are being identified. Suffolk is very lucky as it has some very good services across the county."

He added that anyone wishing to seek advice could contact the drug and alcohol community information line on 01473 299640.

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