Young people now have access to drug education in schools and have a credible and reliable source of information through the highly innovative and successful FRANK campaign.
Young people in known risk groups are the ones most likely to become the problematic drug users of tomorrow. They 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.
The new drug strategy for 2008-2018, Drugs: Protecting Families and Communities, promises action for children, young people and families in key strategic areas, including:
- Prompt access to treatment for all drug-misusing parents with a treatment need, with parents who are problem drug users and whose children are at risk having rapid access, and all assessments taking account of the needs of the family
- Package of interventions for families at risk, to improve parenting skills, helping parents to educate their children about the risks of drugs, supporting families to stay together and breaking the cycle of problems being transferred between
- Support for kin carers, such as grandparents caring for the children of substance-misusing parents, backed up by improved information for carers and guidance for local authorities
- Reinforced role for schools in delivering effective substance misuse education and in identifying young people at risk and intervening earlier through mainstream services rather than solely through specialist services only once substance misuse problems occur
The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) leads on work to prevent substance misuse amongst young people, on family based interventions and working with the National Treatment Agency, on drug treatment for young people.
Our role
The Young People and Drugs Manager at the Government Office for the South East leads on young people and drugs issues, and supports Drug Action Teams in developing services for young people, especially those from vulnerable groups. This is accomplished via the regular regional forum which also acts to disseminate policy advice and to share good practice across the region.
