3 Preventing young people from becoming
problem drug users
16. Measures to reduce problem drug use by young
people have had limited impact. The 2008 strategy reported that
the prevalence of Class A drug use by young people has stayed
relatively unchanged since the first strategy in 1998.[39]
The 2002 drug strategy included a target to reduce the use of
Class A drugs and the frequent use of illicit drugs by young people
by 2008 and, in particular, by the most vulnerable groups. It
put a stronger focus on education, prevention and treatment to
tackle problem drug use by young people.[40]
17. The Agency told us there were indications that
the number of under 24 year olds coming into treatment for heroin
or crack cocaine had started to reduce. However, it acknowledged
that it would not know the picture for certain until the University
of Glasgow, which had researched prevalence, had reported again.[41]
The Department reported that overall drug use by young people
had declined over the last ten years, and that drug related deaths
among young people were very rare.[42]
18. Most young problem drug users found it very difficult
to keep off drugs following drug treatment, due to a culture of
drug use and crime among the people they knew.[43]
We were told that for young people, peer pressure from friends
was a key factor.[44]
The Department reported that drug use was often passed from generation
to generation, requiring a big emphasis on treating families.[45]
19. Middlegate Lodge in Lincolnshire had offered
long-term, one-to-one, residential treatment for young people.
However, the Children's Partnership in Lincolnshire had closed
Middlegate Lodge, in line with the strategy of the Department
for Children, Schools and Families to provide services for young
people in their own communities.[46]
39 HM Government, Drugs: protecting families and
communities: The 2008 Drug Strategy, page 22 http://drugs.homeoffice.gov.uk/ Back
40
Home Office, Updated Drug Strategy 2002, http://drugs.homeoffice.gov.uk/ Back
41
Q 66 Back
42
Q 56 Back
43
Q 53 Back
44
Q 53 Back
45
Q 45 Back
46
Qq 12-16 Back
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