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 we run a rolling training programme, which ensures that all YOS staff are kept up to date with current developments in that national drugs scene and are able to effectively screen young people and deliver substance misuse interventions to tier one level as identified by the National Treatment Agency.  Each of the YOS divisions has a health worker who is the initial point of contact for young people with more serious substance misuse problems.  The health worker will conduct a full health assessment and devise a course of action, which may include a referral to a specialist substance misuse service, continued substance misuse work within the YOS, or a referral to the County Drugs Coordinator for more intensive interventions.  This latter option usually involves further assessment, combined with a sustained care package which is agreed with the young person and a range of other service providers to address the physical and emotional needs of the young person, while at the same time seeking to move the young person towards a positive future free from substance misuse and offending.

Cumbria Youth Offending Service has established working protocols with a range of agencies, both regionally and nationally, who work with young people around substance misuse.  These protocols establish good working practice and seek to ensure the seamless transition of young people and information between all the agencies with whom they are working.  Our active involvement within Cumbria Drug & Alcohol Action Team (DAAT) and Cumbria Young Person’s Substance Misuse Action Group, together with the three Drug Tasks Groups ensure that the YOS is at the forefront of substance misuse policy development, and that good practice is continually disseminated across the county.