Drugs
Drugs, Young People and Service Provision
This publication, from Nacro, presents the main findings of 'Drugs, Young People and Service Provision' research on behalf of the Birmingham Drug Action Team. The report considers substance related servies that address young people's needs and evaluates their performance.
Title: Drugs, Young People and Service Provision
Author: Nacro
Series: Research briefing 6
Number of pages: 8
Date published: January 2004
The research undertaken had 2 focuses:
young people's attitude towards the experiences of drugs and alcohol
evaluation of services already in place providing education, counselling, and treatment for substance abuse.
The young people researched were up to 25 years old. The report analyses the prevalence and patterns of drug abuse, young people's attitude toward drug abuse, and the need of available information.
The report analyses how problematic drug use is best addressed through examining the surrounding issues such as their environment, family / peer relationships, and background education. Additional pressures put upon specific groups such as the homeless and ethnic minorities are also evaluated.
Key Findings
35% of young people aged 14 - 16 years old reported ever having used an illegal substance. 25% reported using a drug in the last month, overwhelmingly cannabis
Young people's attitudes towards drug use were complex, being generally anti-drug use but tolerant of drug users amongst peers
Young people who had developed problematic drug use described an intricate relationship between drug use and family relationships, peer relationships and the homelessness, education and criminal behaviour
Agency support was shown to be important in supporting young people's own motivations to desist from problematic substance abuse
Most education about substance abuse is centred around schools and there is little available for those young people who do not attend school.
Those working with populations likely to include problematic drug users would like more intensive training than is currently available
Rough sleepers are less likely to access services, as are young women with children
There is less provision at the intensive treatment level and waiting lists tend to be long.
Implications
Agencies must be sensitive to the varied needs of clients, including ethnic minorities, young women with children and homeless people.
Drugs education and treatment should be targeted at temporary accommodation for homeless young people.
Drug Action Teams can undertake a range of activities to support service development, including disseminating service information and developing interagency protocols and strategies.
For more information on the report 'Drugs, Young People and Service Provision', please visit the Nacro website: www.nacro.org.uk
Last update: Friday, October 13, 2006