The resort's primary care trust scored among some of the top performing trusts, according to a report by the watchdog, the Healthcare Commission.

The review looked at how services are commissioned – how local drug treatment partnerships plan and manage drug treatment services and harm reduction provision. It also looked at how they deliver services to reduce harm, in particular to cut rates of viruses such as hepatitis C among drug-users, particularly those who inject.

Blackpool PCT scored a total of 33 points in the report, 19 for commissioning, 14 for harm reduction – giving it a rating of "excellent".

The North West region came top in the country in both the commissioning and harm reduction criteria.

Nationally, 55 PCTs (36 per cent) were given an excellent rating , 63 were rated good and 34 were "fair". No PCTs were rated as "weak."

Across the whole of the country, in 2006/07, 195,400 people were in treatment – an increase of 130 per cent on 1998/99, when there were 85,000.

The review did reveal the majority of drug treatment partnerships did have some weaknesses, including vaccination against hepatitis B and treatment for hepatitis C.

Anna Walker, chief executive of the commission, said: "Substance misuse affects not only the individual concerned, but also their families, friends and the communities they live in.

"It's very encouraging that thousands more people are now getting the treatment they need and this review shows there is much to celebrate about the progress that has been made.

"However, it is worrying that the majority of hepatitis C cases are associated with injecting drugs, yet we know access to testing and treatment for the disease is patchy across the country."