The decision by Turning Point, the country's biggest drug and alcohol charity, comes despite government support for similar centres in its recently published drugs White Paper.

Lorne House in the east London borough of Hackney is to close by the end of the month. It treats young people aged 15 to 21 who have a range of drug and alcohol problems.

Princess Diana

The centre, which costs around £450,000 a year to run, was opened nine years ago by its then patron, Diana, Princess of Wales.

Since then, it has treated over 500 young people and claims that many have been able to find jobs, stay drug-free and avoid crime because of its work.

A spokesman for Turning Point said the main reason the centre was closing was a cut in the local health authority's budget for drug and alcohol treatment.

Unique

The centre houses 24 people at any time. Most have been redirected to other treatment programmes, in anticipation of the closure.

Turning Point says Lorne House is unique in offering help with the wide range of problems faced by drug users, such as housing, jobs and general health.

Many drug users have health problems related to drug use, such as damaged veins and the after-effects of poor nutrition. The centre also adopts a multi-drug approach since many users are addicted to a variety of drugs.

White Paper

Its policy is in line with that recommended in the government's White Paper, Tackling Drugs to Build a Better Britain.

Drugs csar Keith Hellawell is keeping quiet on funding

Although the paper supports the treatment of drug abuse rather than a more punitive approach, there has been no news so far about any extra funding to implement it.

Drug organisations hope there will be an announcement after the Comprehensive Spending Reveiw is completed next month.

Cutbacks

Since September, Turning Point has been forced to close three national drug centres, including Lorne House.

Ron Alexander, a spokesman for the charity, said this was part of a national wave of cuts in drug and alcohol treatment programmes.

He said the cutbacks would only mean short-term savings as it cost drug addicts up to £20,000 a year to fund their habits, leading many to turn to crime.