RSS web feeds 
Share 
Print 
Email 
Save Substance misuse
Go to the 'Policy update' page for the latest information on developments relating to substance misuse, including details on:
1. National communications campaign: Children, young people and alcohol (January 2010)
2. Mandatory code of practice for alcohol retailers (December 2009)
3. Personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE) (November 2009)
4. Summer alcohol activity (July – August 2009)
5. Consultation on children, young people and alcohol (July 2009)
The Government aims to continue to reduce the level of substance misuse by young people through local delivery of education, prevention, treatment and enforcement programmes as set out in both the new ten-year drug strategy, Drugs: protecting families and communities (Feb 2008), and the Youth Alcohol Action Plan.
The Government has signalled its commitment to tackling substance misuse with a national indicator (NI 115 Substance misuse by young people) in the Public Service Agreement 14: to increase the number of children and young people on the path to success.
The ten-year drug strategy prioritises families for the first time and outlines actions to reduce the harm that children experience from either their own or their parent's use of drugs, alcohol and volatile substances (glue, gas, solvents, etc.). These include:
- taking a long-term view of prevention by intervening early with families at risk, improving treatment for parents with drug problems and protecting their children during and after the treatment period
- improving drugs education and strengthening the role of schools and children's services in identifying problems and intervening earlier
- integrating substance misuse issues within mainstream children's services and targeted youth support (TYS), improving access to positive activities and ensuring effective specialist treatment for under-18s.
Funding to support local areas to tackle young people's substance misuse has been maintained during the three years of the Comprehensive Spending Review at over £55 million per year. This is backed up by a number of centrally led initiatives, details of which are available on the 'Policy update' page.
To ensure practitioners are aware of the latest developments and resources, further information is available for the following key strategic areas:
- Drugs, including volatile substance abuse (VSA)
- Alcohol
- Treatment
- Practitioner guidance and resources.
Drug and alcohol education
Drug education can reinforce healthy attitudes towards drug use and deepen understanding of the dangers of misuse, delay the age of first use, reduce amounts and frequency of use, and have some impact on reducing numbers using substances. Prevention is best done through early identification of risk factors that lead to substance misuse, and quick effective intervention.
The Children's Plan, published 12 December 2007, sets out the Department's commitment to 'examine the effectiveness of current delivery arrangements for all drugs education including alcohol and act to strengthen them if necessary.' On 23 October 2008, the Government announced that PSHE will become a compulsory part of the curriculum from Key Stages 1 to 4 (ages 5 to 16). A revised Drug Guidance for Schools document is currently out for consultation (until 15 February). The proposed new guidance will help to put alcohol on a more equal footing with drugs prevention. Schools will also be expected to have clear plans in place to deal with pupils who consume alcohol on the school premises and parents turning up to collect their children while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The final guidance for schools will be available in the summer.
Download the contents of this page:
as a Word Document
Last updated on 01/03/2010
