Youth Offending Service - Tackling Substance Misuse

The link between substance misuse and offending has been clearly established and it is something which Cumbria Youth Offending Service takes very seriously.  We recognise that in many cases, young people either offend in order to fund a drug or alcohol problem, or that they are offend while under the influence of drugs of alcohol.  We accept that there is little chance of us reducing the possibility of future offending by these young people unless we can not only address the substance misuse problem, but also consider the reasons why that young person began misusing drugs or alcohol in the first place.

In Cumbria there is a rolling training programme, which ensures that all YOS staff are kept up to date with current developments. Each of the YOS divisions has a health practitioner who is the initial point of contact for young people with substance misuse problems.  The health practitioner will conduct a full health assessment and devise a course of action, which may include a referral to a substance misuse service. Continued substance misuse work within the YOS, or a referral to the County Drugs Coordinator for more intensive interventions.