Starting Well - Adverse Childhood Experiences
YP Addictive Behaviours
Introduction
Substance misuse is associated with a wide range of issues, both for health and the wider social context, and generates substantial health and social care financial costs. Dependency in particular is commonly associated with poor outcomes in relation to physical health, mental health, education, training, employment and housing and with anti-social and criminal activity that adversely affects individuals, families and communities.
Whilst the number of young people who develop a substance misuse or alcohol dependency is relatively low, even for those who only use infrequently there are increased developmental risks associated with alcohol and substance misuse in young people. The majority of young people accessing specialist drug and alcohol interventions do so due to alcohol or cannabis use.
Those who develop a dependency are likely to be vulnerable and experiencing a range of health and social problems. Exposure to alcohol and illicit drug use during adolescence has been shown to increase the risk of substance misuse and dependence in adulthood. Children and young people who live with substance misusing parents and carers also have an increased risk of substance misuse, as well as an increased risk of neglect and domestic violence. The needs of young people’s substance misuse can differ from adults who can access core treatment services. Educating both young people and parents about the inherent risks of substance misuse, in order to allow them to implement measures precautions to prevent substance misuse is vital.
Young people who misuse drugs are at an increased risk of a range mental health issues, including suicide, depression, psychosis and behavioural disorders. Pupils who had been excluded from school or who had played truant were also more likely to take drugs. Alcohol and substance misuse can affect every aspect of young people’s potential. It can affect educational attainment and increases the likelihood of an involvement in crime.
Young people and substance misuse
The national drug treatment monitoring system (NDTMS) looks at the performance and level of need regarding substance misuse in England. The 2017/18 NDTMS figures for young people in Hartlepool show that numbers in treatment are down by 24% from 107 in 2016/17 to 81 in 2017/18. Successful completions of substance misuse treatment however have increased from 65% to 85% in the same period. Young people’s substance use in Hartlepool is predominantly cannabis and alcohol, with 80% of young people in treatment citing cannabis and 46% citing alcohol. The next largest substance of use is cocaine which was used by 7% of young people. This is similar to the national picture, where alcohol is cited by 88% and cannabis by 47%.
Hartlepool’s planned exits, those who successfully completed their substance misuse treatment, was 85%, slightly higher than the national figure of 81%. This is an increase of 20% from the previous year and 23% from the 2015/16 figure. Of those who exited treatment in a planned way 50% were not using any substances, compared to 41% for England.
Hartlepool had 5% of its caseload under the age of 13 years old, which compared to 2% nationally. Those Hartlepool service users under 13 cited alcohol, cannabis and benzodiazepines as their substance use.
Substance misuse vulnerabilities within Hartlepool’s young people have seen a reduction in the amount of early onset substance misuse, down from 91% in 2016/17 to 82% in 2017/18. This is still slightly higher than the national rate of 79%. High risk alcohol use has also fallen, from 9% in 2016/17 to 2% in 2017/18, which puts it in line with the national rate. Poly drug use, using more than one substance, has remained at 43%, which is below the national rate of 57%. Looking at wider vulnerabilities, Hartlepool has improved on 7 measures and worsened on 4. Hartlepool has a better rate than the England average on 9 of the measures
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|
Local |
Baseline |
National |
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|
VULNERABILITIES (year to date) |
Apr - Mar |
|
Apr - Mar |
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|
|
(n) |
(%) |
Baseline |
(n) |
(%) |
|
Wider vulnerabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Looked after child |
4 |
7% |
6% |
166 |
11% |
|
Child in need |
6 |
10% |
16% |
899 |
9% |
|
Domestic abuse |
8 |
13% |
14% |
1990 |
19% |
|
Mental health treatment need |
0 |
0% |
0% |
2816 |
27% |
|
Sexual exploitation |
1 |
2% |
1% |
526 |
5% |
|
Self harm |
2 |
3% |
7% |
1506 |
14% |
|
NEET |
6 |
10% |
13% |
1699 |
16% |
|
Housing problems |
1 |
2% |
3% |
129 |
1% |
|
Parental status / pregnant |
1 |
2% |
0% |
203 |
2% |
|
Child protection plan |
0 |
0% |
4% |
805 |
8% |
|
Anti-social behaviour / criminal act |
18 |
30% |
29% |
3359 |
32% |
|
Affected by others' substance misuse |
9 |
15% |
23% |
2295 |
22% |
Current Services
Hartlepool currently offers a range of services to young people who require support and/or treatment for drug & alcohol issues. This consists of the following and is always tailored to individual need.
- 1:1 person centred interventions which identify risk and protective factors to support change
- Group work sessions for young people, this includes information, education and advice to reduce or prevent the harms associated with drug and alcohol use
- Support for parents and families who are concerned about the drug and alcohol use of a young person
- When required – drug tests
- Working in partnership with other professionals to ensure that a complete wrap around service is given to meet individual needs. This includes the Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) and assisting staff with any concerns about an individual young person that may or may not be using drugs or alcohol
- There is no direct clinical offer for YP, however if there was a need this would be addressed
Future Intentions
The whole Drug & Alcohol service is currently being restructured. The new service will include an improved offer to YP as well as the overall treatment service.
