Opening doors - the key to tackling young people's drug misuse

Release Date:  03-Jul-2009

A new way of supporting young people in Bristol who have drink and drug problems launched earlier this month.

Called Opening Doors, it brings together the city’s four existing specialist substance misuse services for young people in a way that raises their profile and makes them more identifiable. It also means these agencies can work closer together to help vulnerable young people.

The move follows research among young people in Bristol showing 62 per cent of them were unsure whether a drug and alcohol service was available in the city for under 18s.

Opening Doors is commissioned by Safer Bristol Partnership, the partnership of key public agencies and lead players focused on tackling crime and drug issues in the city, to deliver substance misuse services for young people.

Last year just over 1,000 young people came into contact with specialist agencies due to problems with drugs or alcohol.

The number was up by 240 on the previous year as these organisations have become more effective in targeting vulnerable young people through the early intervention service, which helps misusers tackle their problem before it becomes problematic.

The number of young people in specialist treatment during the year increased to 368.

The Opening Doors name was chosen by the young people using the four agencies making up service. It officially launched on July 2 and there will be a new website – www.openingdoorsbristol.org.uk – as well as new posters and leaflets.

Martin Siddorn, Safer Bristol’s young people’s manager, said: “The Opening Doors name will be recognisable to young people and the professionals working with them, including those not involved in substance misuse.

“It is part of our wider support for young people across Bristol which aims to reach out to the most vulnerable in the communities where they live, and forms part of the Someone To Talk To service.
“By integrating the services under the Opening Doors name we hope to make them more identifiable to young people and easier to access.”

The four services, commissioned by Safer Bristol are from the Youth Offending Team, Child & Adolescents Mental Health Services, Children and Young People Services, NHS Bristol and the voluntary sector.  They help young people needing early intervention, those with complex needs, those with social workers and those in the criminal justice system.

Early Intervention

This part of the service is the first point of referral for most young people who need extra support because of their drug and alcohol misuse. The team is made up of workers from the Bristol Drugs Project, Hartcliffe and Withywood Kick Start (HAWKS), the Addiction Recovery Agency, Nilaari and Bristol Youth Service.

Young people are supported at the very earliest opportunity to prevent problems from occurring and are usually seen for between one and six face-to-face sessions. They are given accurate information and advice about the substance they are using and helped to think about how they can make positive changes to their drug and alcohol use, including cutting down and stopping.

Anyone can refer a young person to this service – which works in secondary schools and a range of out of school settings – including parents and carers, other professionals, or the young people themselves.

If heavy drug or alcohol use is involved or the young person is experiencing serious problems, they will be given additional h

elp by one of the treatment services.

Young people with complex needs

A stand-alone unit in the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services within the North Bristol NHS Trust, this service assesses and treats young people and their families who have multiple complex needs, including mental health and substance misuse difficulties.

Referrals are made from targeted young people services, early intervention services, GPs, Children & Young People’s Services and the Youth Offending Teams.

It offers a mixture of office-based and outreach sessions and the young people can be seen at their school or college, GP surgery, local specialist agency offices or their home, once a risk assessment has been made.  It i

nvolves intensive reviews, close liaison with a range of other agencies, with families if available and close supervision of any substitute prescribing if needed.

Young people with social workers

Working directly with children and young people who have an allocated social worker and are affected by substance misuse, this service encourages resilience, promotes safety and offers emotional support.

The ‘at risk’ part of the project works with young people whose drug or alcohol use is causing them, or their families, problems. With their project worker, the young person will develop an individual plan including identifying areas for change and setting goals.

These vary from person to person

but can include reducing or stopping use of a drug or alcohol, taking fewer risks, joining a gym, exploring anger, learning to DJ, etc. This work takes place in one of three centres, at the young person’s home and/or in the community.

The ‘hidden harm’ part of the project works with children and young people affected by their parents’ or carers’ drug or alcohol misuse. It is currently available to those aged between five and 14.

Young people in the criminal justice system

This service works with 10 to 18 year olds in the criminal justice system and who have been to a referral order panel or youth court.

The young people are involved fully in any planning or decision making with their families/carers and other professionals.

The service works at whatever level of intensity the young person needs following an assessment by specialist drug and mental health workers. Support is offered to those leaving custody, especially with finding housing.

The ultimate aim is to tackle drug, alcohol and mental health difficulties that can put them at greater risk of re-offending.
 

Author:   Vicky O'Loughlin

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