Hundreds of people across Sussex are claiming benefits saying drug or alcohol addition has left them unable to work.

Figures obtained by The Argus show more than 850 out of the city's 13,040 claimants for incapacity or severe disablement benefit - around one in 15 or the total - either have drug problems or are classed as alcoholics.

The figures, which were obtained using the Freedom of Information Act, show more than 1,000 people across Sussex are officially unable to work for the same reasons.

Hastings had the second highest number of claimants, 340, with Arun the next highest at 200, following by Worthing with 170.

The lowest number of claimants were in Wealden which had 60 and Lewes, where there were 70.

Brighton and Hove is the drugs death capital of England and Wales.

There were 40 deaths in the city in 2007 at a rate of 18.84 per 100,000 residents.

The number of people who binge drink and hospital stays for alcohol related harm are also higher than average in the city.

Brighton and Hove also has a worryingly high number of young people who drink too much or take drugs.

Latest figures show up to 20 people are being taken to A&E every month because they have drunk too much while 11% of boys and 14% of girls under 18 claim to buy alcohol from off-licences.

A survey of the city's schoolchildren also revealed many were regularly taking class A drugs and abusing solvents.

The NHS, Sussex Police and Brighton and Hove City Council are working together to tackle the problem to stop young people developing problems in the future and finding themselves unable to work as a result.

Work is also being done to help adults.

A spokeswoman for Brighton and Hove Primary Care Trust said: “We significantly invest in a programme of support for the problem of drug and alcohol misuse in the city with one of the issues being unemployment.

“We are working together with partners in the city to follow guidelines from the Department of Health's National Treatment Agency to understand how best to support unemployed people with alcohol and drug problems to return to work.

“We fund training for Jobcentre Plus advisers to support clients presenting with drug and alcohol problems and refer them to treatment services as well as help them find employment.

“We also support the Crime Reduction Initiative's peer mentoring service which trains ex-clients with skills to become professional drug and alcohol support workers.”