A Christian drug addiction specialist has welcomed new plans for regional drug testing hubs, but emphasised the importance of the Christian faith in overcoming addiction.

The All Party Parliamentary Group for Drug Policy Reform and other charities have highlighted the urgent need for measures to address the increasing harms from club drug use.

A report entitled “Night Lives: Reducing Drug-Related Harms in the Night Time Economy” recommends drug testing facilities in city centres in night time districts.

It came after latest figures show deaths from ecstasy and cocaine are at their highest ever level.

Peter Yarwood became a Christian in prison after struggling with drugs and now helps people recover from addiction as CEO of Red Rose Recovery.

He told Premier his drug addiction began after his parents separated.

“As a teenager I was particularly vulnerable to suggestion,” he said.

“I ended up getting involved with the wrong crowd. Very quickly I was addicted to alcohol and heroine. I ended up as a 15 year old in the criminal justice system and that kept me going round that cycle for 20 years.”

Yarwood told Premier when he had a group of Christians mentor him while in prison, it helped change his lifestyle.

He said: “One of the things that kept me trapped in addiction is I didn’t have any social peers. I didn’t have somebody who could teach me how to deal life. And that’s…

The Church (known by its French acronym, EPA) said in a statement that it denounces the “intimidation” of Nouredine and Belabbes Khalil.

According to World Watch Monitor, the men were each fined 100,000 dinar (US $900) on 8th March in an appeal hearing.

In December 2017, they were originally sentenced to two years in prison each and a 50,000-dinar fine ($450).

Three years ago police stopped their car on the road and found 56 Bibles in the vehicle. The Khalils were interrogated about where the Bibles came from and what they were going to do with them. They told authorities that the books were for their church community, which Nouredine leads.

Police released the men and returned the Bibles, but the incident was still referred to a prosecutor who took legal action against them.

The men were convicted under a law which bans the printing, storing and distribution of materials intended to “shake the faith” of a Muslim.

The EPA has provided a group of lawyers to the brothers to make a further appeal against the recent verdict.

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As part of a three week inquiry, there have been calls by some for it to be investigated by a body outside of the church.

Reverend Rachel Mann, a vicar in Manchester, wrote on twitter: “Given the evidence of the on-going enquiry, the future of safeguarding in the C of E lies in an independent body, doesn’t it? If not, do tell my why.”

Bishop Alan Wilson, the Bishop of Buckingham, replied: “Yes. A terrible week with evidence of religious exceptionalism, stupidity, incompetence, lying, dumping responsibility at every level including the highest, and folie de grandeur. Bishops must be acccountable. This means not just to themselves. End of story.”

During the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), one person who gave evidence was asked how the church can deal with the abuse of power and replied: “It needs to stop squelching discussion, it has a way of crushing people when they try to speak and it needs to treat people as adults not children.”

The C of E’s current safeguarding team is in-house.

The Archbishop of Cantebury will give evidence on Wednesday and the Bishop opf Manchester, David Walker on Monday.

If you want to follow my evidence on Religious Communities at @InquiryCSA this afternoon, please use the link in the tweet below. https://t.co/GTfDHzSG3b

— David Walker (@BishManchester) March 19, 2018

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He had recently been injured in a fall and died in a Newcastle hospital.

Cardinal O’Brien resigned as Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh in 2013 after admitting sexual misconduct.

Confirmation of his death was announced by his successor, Archbishop Leo Cushley.

He said: “At 1am on 19 March 2018, his eminence Keith Patrick Cardinal O’Brien, Archbishop Emeritus of St Andrews & Edinburgh, died at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Newcastle-upon-Tyne surrounded by family and friends and fortified by the rites of Holy Church. RIP.

“In life, Cardinal O’Brien may have divided opinion – in death, however, I think all can be united in praying for the repose of his soul, for comfort for his grieving family and that support and solace be given to those whom he offended, hurt and let down. May he rest in peace.”

His successor gave him the last rites on Friday.

The cardinal had resigned in February 2013 after three priests and a former priest alleged improper conduct during the 1980s.

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