Supporting young people with drug and alcohol problems into work

Paul Anders

Senior Policy Officer

DrugScope

Young people’s services that impact on drug use:

2010 Drug Strategy & 2012 Alcohol Strategy Emphasis on prevention and recovery –

hope vs. fear Keeping children safe and rebuilding

families Good quality advice and education Supported by recovery champions Recovery capital - housing, employment,

social support etc. £2bn Early Intervention Grant Alcohol strategy emphasises crime / ASB

elements & binge drinking – plus MUP Alcohol & drugs key to other strategies –

e.g. Social Justice

Between 2008-11, 41% successfully completed and did not return, compared to 27% in 2005-08.

The number of young adults (18-24) coming into treatment for heroin has fallen by 23% in the last year alone, from 5,500 to 4,250, a fall of nearly two-thirds since 2005-06 (11,300).

The over-40s are now the only age group whose treatment numbers are going up.

Number of PDUs lowest on record.

Better outcomes & changing client group

Trouble ahead? Drugs and alcohol into public health – no sign as yet

that there is effective protection (3/66 indicators) Impact of youth unemployment – c.f. 80s & 90s

recessions – but no “typical” drug user Children of drug users as carers Proliferation and availability of novel psychoactive

substances (“legal highs”) Most deprived authorities frequently lost the most

money in SR2010. What about 2013? Prevention & young people’s services most

vulnerable (UKDPC & DrugScope, JRF, all 2012)

A word about the Work Programme Two pilots:

• Recovery Works – additional £2,500 at job outcome

• Recovery and Employment – collaborative working with supply chains

Proof of concept for other groups with evaluation Can Recovery & Employment model work

elsewhere? Sub-contractors with strong track records in place in (at least) 15 out of 18 CPAs.

Contact Details

E-mail: paul.anders@drugscope.org.uk

Tel: 020 7234 9799

www.drugscope.org.uk