Young People's Drugs & Alcohol Service

The Young Person's Substance Misuse Service engages vulnerable young people and intervenes early to avoid or limit escalating risk and harm from substance misuse. The objective of the service is to support sustained recovery by supporting young people, from entrance into the service to re-integration back into the wider community or adult services.

1.3 This service will operate within the context and expectations outlined in the National Drug Strategy (2017). With regards to young people, the strategy is clear that a targeted approach with specialist services are needed for those most at risk of misusing drugs and to tackle the threats of new types of drug misuse. In brief, the aim of the Strategy is to support people to live a drug free life through a whole-life approach to preventing and reducing the demand for drugs that will lead to the following outcomes:

1. Reduce Demand - action to prevent the onset of drug use, and its escalation at all ages, through universal action combined with more targeted action for the most vulnerable. This includes placing a greater emphasis on building resilience and confidence among our young people to prevent the range of risks they face (e.g. drug and alcohol misuse, crime, exploitation, unhealthy relationships).
2. Restrict Supply - taking a smarter approach to restricting the supply of drugs: adapting our approach to reflect changes in criminal activity; using innovative data and technology; taking coordinated partnership action to tackle drugs alongside other criminal activity.
3. Build Recovery - improving both treatment quality and outcomes for different user groups; ensuring the right interventions are given to people according to their needs; and facilitating the delivery of an enhanced joined-up approach to commissioning and the wide range of services that are essential to supporting every individual to live a life free from drugs.
4. Global Action - taking a leading role in driving international action, spearheading new initiatives e.g. on new psychoactive substances, sharing best practice and promoting an evidence-based approach to preventing drug harms.

1.4 With regards to a local context, Havering is the third largest London borough, covering some 43 square miles. It is located on the northeast boundary of Greater London. To the north and east the Borough is bordered by the Essex countryside, to the south by a three mile River Thames frontage, and to the west by the neighbouring boroughs of Redbridge and Barking & Dagenham. The general population of the Borough has increased year on year since 2002, with a 13.7% increase from 2002 to 2017. Looking ahead, it is projected that the largest increases in population will occur in children (0-17 years) and older people age groups (65 years and above) up to 2033.