Young people in known risk groups are the ones most likely to become the adult problem drug users of the future: around 18,500 young people feed into the adult problem drug user population each year.
The South West's Regional Drug Strategy mirrors the national strategy, but recognises that the region includes 50 of the most deprived super-output areas as well as having the largest rural population in England and Wales. Young person substance misuse is at or below national averages but it is suggested that there is a more significant need for access to general information and support in the region rather than for more complex and sustained treatment.
Those young people who progress into problematic drug use are often coping with significant levels of pressure from other factors, such as deprivation, low self esteem, parental drug misuse, school exclusion or other family/parenting issues. In order to be effective in helping young people avoid drug problems, there is a need for effective universal service provision and to focus on early intervention and support for the key risk groups:
- the children of drug-misusing parents
- school excludees and truants
- young people who are looked after by social services
- young offenders and young people living in deprived areas
- young people who have been sexually exploited or who work in the sex industry
This means not only developing specialist drug service provision, but ensuring that generic services for children and young people are fully committed to identifying and intervening to tackle drug problems before they become acute.
Local service provision must reflect the new approach to planning and delivery arising from 'Every Child Matters: Change For Children' while ensuring that a firm focus on tackling drugs and achieving the Government Public Service Agreement (PSA) target, to "reduce the proportion of young people frequently using illlicit drugs, alcohol or volatile substances, especially by the most vulnerable young people" is maintained to deliver a step improvement in outcomes for young people.
