Young People's Substance Misuse Strategy

Reducing substance use is a key target in the Every Child Matters outcomes framework under 'Be Healthy'. Every Child Matters: - Young People and Drugs (2005) highlights that more emphasis should be placed on early intervention with those most at risk, with drug misuse considered as part of the assessment, care planing and interventions by all agencies providing services for children, including schools.

The current National Drug Strategy aims to "prevent harm to children, young people and families affected by drug misuse". The new strategy will build on the successes of the past ten years, focussing more on families, addressing the needs of parents and children as individuals, as well as working with whole families to prevent drug use, reduce risk and get people into treatment.

Higher levels of alcohol and substance use are associated with a range of high risk behaviour including unprotected sex and offending. Drug Action Teams and Children's Services can help each other improve outcomes for young people, their families and the community, as part of an overall strategy for meeting children and young people's needs.

The Hampshire DAAT / Children's Services Young People's Drug Treatment Plan 2008-09 forms the basis of substance misuse treatment for Hampshire Children's Plan. It consists of:

• key findings of current needs assessments

• improvements to be made

• key priorities for developing interventions

• funding identified to support delivery