The founder of a drug and alcohol rehabilitation charity in west Suffolk has urged people to try to take positives away from the tragic death of Oscar-winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Chip Somers, founder and advisory patron of Focus12, based in Bury St Edmunds, said while the actor had relapsed and died following 22 years of abstinence, the positive to take away from the tragedy was that he had 22 years of productive life.

Mr Hoffman died from an apparent drugs overdose in his New York City apartment. He was found dead in his bathroom in the city’s Greenwich Village area on Sunday.

Mr Somers said: “He is an example of somebody who, for 22 years, was able to beat his addiction. He led a good life and he certainly would have died much sooner had he not found recovery.”

He added: “Drugs are dangerous and this is why [at Focus12] we say that the only way to deal with addiction is not to take any drugs.”

He said not everyone was successful at beating their addiction, but it was best to have tried.

“I don’t think people can be cured any more than people can be cured of cigarette addiction,” he said. “I think people understand that if you give up cigarettes you are always prone to relapsing back to smoking again, but I don’t think that prevents you from trying to stop. It’s worth endeavouring so as many people as possible will stop.

“You should never give up on people with addiction problems, but should persevere to get them to be drug free and hopefully support them in a way so that lasts a long time.”