Young people and family substance misuse Service- Sefton Council

Patterns of substance misuse among young people are changing, both in terms of reported prevalence and complexity of the problems faced by the young people who use services. While recent years have seen a decline in the number of young people recorded as entering specialist substance misuse services, substance misuse continues to be ranked as one of the five major challenges that young people face today with cannabis and alcohol remaining the most commonly reported substances for under 18 year olds with problematic use.

Substance misuse is seldom an isolated issue for young people. It affects their health and wellbeing, their education, their family, their security and their future.

Substance misuse is closely linked to a number of risky behaviours, including risky sexual activity and multiple risk behaviours and vulnerabilities often associated with adolescence. Building resilience within an asset-based age appropriate model of Young People and Family substance misuse service delivery is central to enabling young people to develop the confidence and social capital that are protective factors against vulnerability to substance use and involvement in criminal activity.

Evidence suggests that specialist substance misuse interventions contribute to improved health and wellbeing, educational attendance and achievement, reductions in the numbers of young people not in education, employment or training and reduced risk taking behaviour, such as offending, smoking and unprotected sex. The lives of young people can be improved when their families (many of whom have complex needs themselves) are offered support and awareness of the negative affects their substance misuse while involving family members in treatment can improve positive outcomes and sustained behaviour change for young people and their families.