New practice standards for young people with drug and alcohol problems

Embargoed until 27 June 2012

The Royal College of Psychiatrists has today published new practice standards on the care of young people with substance misuse problems.

Drug and alcohol misuse among young people is a major problem, although overall use is starting to decline. The UK has one of the highest rates of young people’s cannabis use and binge drinking in Europe, with some 13,000 hospital admissions linked to young people’s drinking each year. In recent years the number of specialist services for drug and alcohol misuse has increased so that young people can get the treatment they need. In 2010-2011 the number of under-18s accessing these services was 21,955.

The new standards have been developed by the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Centre for Quality Improvement (CCQI) in partnership with substance misuse organisations, paediatricians, psychologists and nurses.They are aimed at all staff in contact with young people aged 18 or under (in universal, targeted and specialist services) across health, social care, education, youth justice system, and the voluntary and community sector.

The standards propose that services invest in the psychosocial development and well-being of young people with substance misuse problems to give them the best chance of a normal life through:

• engagement of the young person, and their family where possible
• skilled initial analysis of the young person’s difficulties, including mental disorders and developmental problems such as learning disability, and life circumstances
• engaging local systems so that they work together
• co-ordinated, well-led interventions that mobilise the resources of local communities as required, including safeguarding, education, training, mental health and accommodation
• active follow-up to detect further episodes of support or intervention
• prioritising and delivering the training and support of staff

Dr Dickon Bevington, of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said: "Many of our most vulnerable young people have their lives further blighted by substance misuse. From a position just a decade ago of having minimal evidence for effectiveness, substance use disorder services for young people are now guiding many young people toward fuller lives.  These standards should be read as the next chapter in a conversation that has been gathering pace, where genuine collaboration between experts, agencies, and different professional groupings has been a founding principle."

Martin Barnes, chief executive of DrugScope, said: "These practice standards have a vital role to play in supporting the development of procedures, interventions and services that are both efficient and effective. I hope they will become a key reference resource for everyone working with young people affected by substance misuse problems, and will be used to inform workforce development, strategic planning and development, and delivery of care and treatment."

Note to editors:

In January 2011, the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Centre for Quality Improvement established an advisory group to inform the development of the standards. The group comprised 20 professionals who represented a range of stakeholder groups including: National Treatment Agency, Alcohol Concern, DrugScope, Turning Point, Addaction, Commissioner of young people’s substance misuse services, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, Department of Health, Department of Education, Youth Justice Board.