Every child matters, but to whom?

Every child matters, but to whom? Dr Jenny McWhirter DrugScope Associate jennyetal@btinternet.com

Young people and drugs

Users • Infrequent • Frequent • Poly drug use • With other risk behaviours • Problematic • Impact on family, friends and peers • Training for the children’s workforce in screening and assessment • Dedicated services for young people

At risk • Truants and those excluded from school • Unstable home and family circumstances • Drug/alcohol using parents • Poor achievement at school • Poor adult support (home, school, community) • Mental health problems • Involved with CJS • Community based interventions grounded in need

As parents • Hidden harm • ECM • YM • EYFS • Specialist drug services such as Health Visitors and Midwives • Access to universal services for non-judgemental support

Involved in sexual exploitation • HIV/Aids • To support drug use • The role of young men • Drugs used to control feelings • Drugs used to manipulate behaviour • Risk of violence • Joined up services which are sustained

In care or leaving care • Support/training for carers • Financial support for kinship carers • Housing • Continuing education • Continuity of universal services: GP, schools, voluntary organisations • Access to specialist services: drug treatment, sexual health

As non-users • Universal services • Evidence for prevention • Understanding the aims of drug education • Understanding the context of drug education • Just say ‘no’ to drug testing in schools • Evaluation, evaluation, evaluation!

Somebody’s daughter, everyone’s child? • 24 years old • Mother of 3 young children • Addicted to crack cocaine and heroin • Living with an older man • ‘Sex worker’ • One of 5 young women murdered in Ipswich in December 2006

Every child matters, but to whom?

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