THE number of drugs-related deaths in Inverclyde has more than doubled over the last year, disturbing new figures show.

New government statistics have revealed the human cost of addiction, which claimed 17 lives in the area last year.

This is 10 more than 2009 and is the worst drugs death toll in Inverclyde for over a decade.

The report from the Registrar General shows Inverclyde figures have rocketed over the past two years, from five in 2008, to seven in 2009 and well into double figures last year.

But while Inverclyde's drugs-related death rate increased markedly, the national trend has seen figures fall for the second year in a row.

Across Scotland in 2010 there were 485 drug-related deaths, compared to 545 in 2009 - an 11 per cent drop.

One of the key players in the fight against drug addiction in Inverclyde insists the figures should not detract from the amount of effort going into tackling the problem.

Joe McIlwee, chairman of Inverclyde Community Health and Care Partnership, pictured, said: "I think the number of these drug-related deaths are sad but this is not to take away from the work and money being put in to try to reduce these deaths, and the work that has been put in by service users themselves." Councillor McIlwee stressed that people from all walks of life can become hooked on drugs - but he believes more should be done to rehabilitate people rather than to 'contain' the problem to bring people back into society.

He said: "It's worrying - what we're looking at is related to personal circumstances, jobs and finance.

"Police need to get involved in other ways to help young people with drugs problems.

"We have started a persistent offender programme whereby we try to get people back into the system and work together with different agencies." Heroin accounted for most of the 17 drugs deaths while methadone and alcohol also contributed, with more than one drug reported in some of the cases.

Councillor McIlwee stressed that the misery of drug abuse is linked with problems such as unemployment and poverty, with social pressures pushing some people into a chaotic lifestyle and a downward spiral.

The health partnership chief also highlighted the toll each drugs tragedy has on individual families and communities.

He said: "The population as a whole doesn't take drugs for the sake of it.

"And these death figures don't come lightly, they sit hard with communities."