David Blunkett has unveiled the government's "tough love" strategy to tackle addiction and drug related crime.

New cross-force police "hit squads" are set to swoop on "middle drug markets" breaking the chain between traffickers and local dealers.

Efforts will focus on a group of 250,000 Class A drug users who are said to account for 99 per cent of the social costs of drug abuse.

The home secretary and Alan Milburn trailed a new approach to drug misuse during a visit to a London centre for addicts.

"The misery caused by the use of drugs and hard drugs that kill cannot be under-estimated," said Blunkett.

"It damages the health and life chances of individuals; it undermines family life, tears apart communities and turns law-abiding citizens into thieves."

"We will maintain our focus on Class A drugs as they cause the most harm. We must achieve real reductions in the level of problematic use if we are to turn around the lives of individuals and their communities."

Blunkett and the health secretary met clients and workers at a trailblazing specialist provider of drug services to rough sleepers.The centre works directly with homeless problem drug users.

Among the services offered to drug addicts is a Soho-based mobile needle exchange which made over 25,000 contacts in its first six months.

Key to the new approach will be "education, prevention and treatment" allied with action against drug dealers and treatment for addicts.

"Education, prevention, minimising harm, treatment and effective policing are our most powerful tools in dealing with drugs," said Blunkett.

A focus on education will herald an anti-drugs propaganda offensive in schools and aimed at parents.

"Young people are our highest priority. They need good quality drug education, information and advice based on a credible assessment of the damage drugs do," said the former education secretary.

The government's "tough but tender" war on drugs will see funding rise by over £200 million in 2003, rising by another £255 million in 2005.

Blunkett is shifting the emphasis of law enforcement efforts "on getting drug-using offenders into treatment".

Expansion of treatment services tailored to individual need - including residential treatment- and reduced waiting times will be backed by the extra cash.

Funding for treatment services, including prisons, will increase by £45 million in 2003, by £54 million in 2004 and £115 million in 2005.

The total direct annual spend on treatment will be up to £589 million by 2005.Every opportunity from arrest, to court, to sentence, to parole will be used to get offenders into treatment and out of trouble.

"The best place for drug using offenders is in treatment and out of trouble. Presumption against bail is tough love - accept the treatment on offer or face custody," Blunkett said.

Ministers are to target crime hotspots with the worse drug problems.

Offenders will be drugs tested on arrest and offered a stark choice treatment or jail.

"All this will be backed up by extra resources for arrest referral, drug treatment and testing orders, treatment in prison and for post-release treatment and support for those leaving custody," said the Home Office.