Drug and alcohol treatment for young people conference 2010

Conference in partnership with OLM-Pavilion and supported by NCB (the National Children’s Bureau).

In the last few years there has been a major expansion of specialist drug and alcohol services for young people. We still have a lot to learn about providing effective treatment for young people, and adult services provide limited guidance. Young people tend to have different kinds of substance misuse problems to adults and to respond to different kinds of treatment.

So, which young people are now being referred for specialist drug and alcohol treatment, by whom and for what reasons? Are we getting the balance right between providing specialist substance misuse services and working with young people through 'mainstream' children's services? What kinds of specialist help are available? What do we know about what works (and what doesn't)? What about transitions between young people's and adult services? This conference will consider these issues.

Aims of the conference

The aims of this conference were to:

• Provide an overview and assessment of current policy frameworks for young people's drug and alcohol treatment, nationally and locally;
• Examine the distinctive characteristics of drug and alcohol problems for young people, and the relationship to other problems (including physical and emotional problems, family issues, social exclusion and problems at school);
• Consider the evidence-base on what works in tackling substance misuse problems among young people, including the balance between specialist treatment and mainstream interventions, and the challenges of working with young people with complex needs;
• Highlight and showcase innovative practice and provide opportunities to hear from and talk with people providing specialist drug and alcohol services for young people.

The themes for this conference included:

• Young people's substance misuse - trends and issues
• What do we mean by 'specialist treatment' for young people
• Evidence base on treatment effectiveness - what works and what doesn't
• Quality assurance and performance management for young people's treatment
• Working with multiple need, care planning and integration of children's services
• Young adults, the problems of transition and the development of transitional services

Speakers at the event were:

• Martin Barnes Chief Executive, DrugScope
• David Chater Substance Misuse Lead, DCSF Specialist provision
• Tom Aldridge Young People's Manager, NTA
• Marcus Roberts Director of Policy and Membership, Drugscope
• Christian Guy Senior Researcher, Centre for Social Justice
• Paul Ennals CEO, National Children's Bureau
• Fran Holgate Compass tbc
• Nathan Dick Clinks and T2A
• Gabrielle Chalk Addaction
• Jo Butcher NCB
• Ginny Lunn Princes Trust
• Max Daly Editor Druglink , DrugScope
• Andrew McNicoll Communications Officer, DrugScope