NEWS ROUND-UP
Alcohol treatment failing disadvantaged young people
Alcohol treatment for young people in England is more than twice as likely to fail for those not in employment, education or training( NEET), according to researchers at the University of Manchester. There were more than 16,000 under-17s in drug and alcohol treatment in the year to March 2024 according to the most recent figures, 13 per cent up on the previous year but almost 35 per cent lower than 2008- 09’ s peak figure of 24,494.
Researchers analysed NDTMS data for more than 2,600 young people in treatment between 2018 and 2023, and compared statistics for marginalised groups including those who were NEET, registered with social services, or experiencing sexual exploitation
THE UK’ S FIRST SAFER DRUG CONSUMP TION FACILITY, Glasgow’ s The Thistle, has been accessed 11,348 times by almost 600 people since it opened a year ago, says the Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership( HSCP). The facility has so far seen more than 7,800 injections, with 93 medical emergencies – all of which were‘ safely managed within the facility by staff’. Just under 450 of the 575 people now registered to use the service are men.
The Thistle is a three-year pilot that will be monitored and evaluated in terms of its impact on both service users and the local area, with the Scottish Government committed to making up to £ 2.3m a year available for the facility. Last year two sites were identified for a potential second consumption room, in Edinburgh.
Although Scotland’ s most recent drug death statistics showed a 13 per cent fall – to just over 1,100 – the country’ s death rate remains the highest in Europe, and last year saw a number of warnings from Public Health Scotland and local health boards about highly potent nitazenes in the drug supply.
or homelessness.
Almost 26 per cent of NEETs and 18 per cent of those with a child protection plan – indicating risk of significant harm through abuse or neglect – did not complete their treatment, the researchers found. The study also found that substance use or mental health problems among family members reduced the chance of young people stopping drinking by the end of their treatment, while older adolescents were also at greater risk of dropping out. The results suggest that treatment outcomes‘ vary significantly based on socioeconomic disadvantage and early life adversity’, the researchers state.
‘ Understanding which people struggle with treatment is crucial, as it could help services
provide more tailored support for those at higher risk,’ said lead author Dr Mica Komarnyckyj.‘ Many challenges that put adolescents at risk of being NEET – such as lack of parental support, economic inequalities or emotional difficulties – may be the same barriers that make it harder for them to complete treatment. Young people with child protection plans also had greater risk of dropping out of treatment. Many have experienced neglect or abuse, and some use alcohol to cope with trauma.’ This meant that embedding trauma-informed approaches in services was essential, she stressed.
A recent Europe-wide study found that while rates of drinking, smoking and cannabis use among young people were
Thistle clocks up more than 11,000 visits in first year
The Thistle had‘ exceeded any expectations’ for its first 12 months,’ said associate medical director Dr Saket Priyadarshi.‘ It has been great to see service users engaging with the wider services from showers and clothing to referral for treatment and care. The rising numbers in recent months is a positive sign and is promising for the year ahead, as well as our plans to progress a smoking / inhalation space in the facility.’
Young people with child protection plans had a greater risk of dropping out of treatment.
DR MICA KOMARNYCKYJ
now falling across the continent, the rising rates of vaping, online gambling and non-medical use of pharmaceutical drugs pointed to‘ a generation in profound transition’.
Associations between childhood risk factors and alcohol treatment outcomes in adolescence is published in the journal Alcohol and Alcoholism at https:// academic. oup. com / alcalc
Drink drive limit to be slashed
THE GOVERNMENT IS CONSULTING ON LOWERING THE ALCOHOL LIMIT for drivers, as part of the first road safety strategy in a decade. The proposal is to reduce the limit from 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath to 22 micrograms, to bring it in line with Scotland – the limit in England and Wales has remained unchanged since 1967.
Other proposals include suspending the licences of people suspected of drink or drug driving offences, as well as the introduction of alcohol interlock devices – which prevent a vehicle from being started unless the driver passes a breath test – for offenders. One in six road fatalities in 2023 involved drink driving, the government states.
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