HIGHLAND Health Board is stepping up its campaign to tackle the area's

chronic drink problem. A report shows that the region, with a population

of about 200,000, has 18,000 heavy drinkers. It also shows that 6500 are

regarded as ''problem'' drinkers, although only one in six of these are

known to help agencies. The board plans to increase the number of

community psychiatric nurses working in this field from three to 10 in

three years; a new day unit will open later this year beside Raigmore

Hospital in Inverness to provide a wider range of services throughout

the region.