Page 34 - Getting it Right for Vulnerable Children and Young People in North Ayrshire

Children and young people who are affected by their own misuse of alcohol and/or drugs Definition Problematic alcohol and/or drug use is defined in Getting our Priorities Right (GOPR) as: when the use of drugs or alcohol is having a harmful effect on a person’s life, or those 12 around them. Brief overview of issues: Children and young people who misuse alcohol and/ or drugs and their families are often known to social services, health and criminal justice services prior to their drug/alcohol use. There are clear links between poverty, deprivation, widening inequalities and 14 13 alcohol/drug use and crime. It has been highlighted by Neale (2002) that drug misuse is more prevalent among those who have been in care and/or excluded from school and those in contact with the criminal justice system or mental health services. The misuse of drugs and/or alcohol by young people can result in a number of negative outcomes, such as: • Family disruption/ breakdown • Involvement in anti-social and criminal activities • Physical harm – organ damage, damage to brain development and memory, stunted growth • Psychological harm – mental health implications, increased vulnerability possibly leading to unsafe situations • Poor attendance at school/ underachieving at school Problematic drug and/or alcohol use in children and young people is often symptomatic of a range of other underlying difficulties in their lives such as: • Parenting capacity • Parents/carers mental health • Young person’s mental health • Domestic abuse • Offending • Educational difficulties • Parental drug/ alcohol misuse • Child abuse and neglect Furthermore, research shows that the earlier a child starts drinking, the higher their chances of developing alcohol abuse or dependence in their teenage years and adult life – children who drink before the age of 15 are most susceptible to alcohol misuse in later 15 life . 12 Getting our Priorities Right: Updated Good Practice Guidance For All Agencies and Practitioners Working With Children, Young People and Families Affected By Problematic Alcohol and/or Drug Use (Scottish Government: April 2013) 13 Shaw, A, Egan, J & Gillespie, M (2007) Scottish Drugs Forum; Drugs and poverty: A literature review 14 Neale, J., (2002) Drug Users in Society. Basingstoke: Palgrave 15 Donaldson, Sir L. (2009) Guidance on the consumption of alcohol by children and young people, Department of Health Getting It Right For Vulnerable Children and Young People in North Ayrshire Live V1.2 April 2014 Page No:34