Two linked research reviews examined how young people acquire their knowledge, attitudes, expectations, and intentions about alcohol; and what interventions worked best to prevent excessive use of alcohol.
Source: Richard Velleman, Alcohol Prevention Programmes, Joseph Rowntree Foundation | Richard Velleman, Influences on How Children and Young People Learn About and Behave Towards Alcohol, Joseph Rowntree Foundation (01904 629241)
Links: Report (1) | Report (2) | Findings
Date: 2009-Nov
A study examined the price ordinary families were paying by caring for family members with drug problems – resulting in financial hardship, loss of employment, breakdown of family relationships, and psychological stress. At least 1.5 million adults caring for relatives with drug problems were bearing a 'hidden burden' valued at at least £1.8 billion.
Source: Alex Copello, Lorna Templeton and Jane Powell, Adult Family Members and Carers of Dependent Drug Users: Prevalence, social cost, resource savings and treatment responses, UK Drug Policy Commission (web publication only)
Links: Report | Briefing | UKDPC press release | PRTC press release | Guardian report
Date: 2009-Nov
A report said that there had been a 'dramatic' fall in heroin use among young adults in England, heralding a 'generational shift' in patterns of drug dependence. The number of young adults presenting as heroin and crack addicts fell by almost one-third over the four years to 2008-09.
Source: Annual Report 2008-09, National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (020 7972 2214)
Links: Annual Report | Turning Point press release | DrugScope press release | EATA press release | BBC report
Date: 2009-Oct
A report examined patterns and trends in smoking in young people (aged 11-24) in England, and future policy options on smoking prevention and cessation for this group.
Source: Amanda Amos, Kathryn Angus, Jenny Fidler, Gerard Hastings and Yvonne Bostock, A Review of Young People and Smoking in England, Public Health Research Consortium/University of York (01904 321934
Links: Report | Summary | Drug Education Forum press release
Date: 2009-Sep
A report reviewed a number of work-based projects focused on preventing under-age access to alcohol, improving compliance with the Licensing Act 2003, and reducing the burdens of alcohol-related harm on society.
Source: Research by Design Ltd, Protecting Young People from Alcohol Related Harm, Local Better Regulation Office (0121 226 4000)
Links: Report | Drug Education Forum press release
Date: 2009-Jul
A report said that too many young people engaged in binge drinking, oblivious to the dangers of social exclusion and homelessness that could result from their behaviour. Some young drinkers were falling into a cycle of severe alcohol dependency without realizing the long-term harm they were doing to themselves, their families, and those around them.
Source: Adrian Bonner and Claire Luscombe, The Seeds of Exclusion 2009, Salvation Army (020 7367 4700)
Links: Report | Salvation Army press release | Guardian report | Inside Housing report
Date: 2009-Jul
A survey monitored smoking, drinking, and drug use among secondary school pupils aged 11-15 in England in 2008. The prevalence of drug use had declined since 2001. In 2008, 22 per cent of pupils said they had used drugs at some time, 15 per cent had taken drugs in the previous year, and 8 per cent had taken drugs in the previous month. In 2001, the corresponding proportions had been 29 per cent, 20 per cent, and 12 per cent.
Source: Elizabeth Fuller (ed.), Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use Among Young People in England 2008, Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Report | Summary | DrugScope press release | Drug Education Forum press release | NatCen press release | Pulse report
Date: 2009-Jul
A study found that young people responded well to treatment for substance misuse when it was carefully tailored to their needs; and the results when families were also included in treatment was even more positive.
Source: Closing the Gaps: A whole family approach to young people and substance misuse, Addaction (020 7251 5860)
Links: Report | Addaction press release
Date: 2009-Mar
An article said that there appeared to be an association between exposure to alcohol advertising or promotional activity and subsequent alcohol consumption in young people.
Source: Lesley Smith and David Foxcroft, 'The effect of alcohol advertising, marketing and portrayal on drinking behaviour in young people: systematic review of prospective cohort studies', BMC Public Health, Volume 9
Links: Abstract | Oxford Brookes press release
Date: 2009-Feb
An article said that youth work approaches that responded to adolescent drug and alcohol use were not working. It called for a shift in policy and practice to embrace 'detached', street-based youth work as a method to reduce the harm and marginalization that drug and alcohol use continued to cause.
Source: Adam Fletcher and Chris Bonell, 'Detaching youth work to reduce drug and alcohol-related harm', Public Policy Research, Volume 15 Issue 4
Links: Abstract | LSHTM press release
Date: 2009-Feb
The government began consultation on guidance from Chief Medical Officers on alcohol consumption by young people. It was recommended that young people up to the age of 15 should avoid alcohol altogether.
Source: Draft Guidance on the Consumption of Alcohol by Children and Young People from the Chief Medical Officers of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, Department of Health (08701 555455) and Department for Children, Schools and Families
Links: Consultation document | Hansard | DH press release | RCP press release | Alcohol Policy UK press release | NCB press release | Guardian report | Telegraph report
Date: 2009-Jan
A report said that the numbers of young people in substance-misuse treatment in England rose in 2007-08 – reflecting increased access to drug-treatment services, rather than an increase in prevalence. 4 out of 5 of all the young people recorded receiving specialist help were being treated for problems with cannabis or alcohol.
Source: Getting to Grips with Substance Misuse Among Young People: The data for 2007/08, National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (020 7972 2214)
Links: Report | NTA press release | DrugScope press release | BBC report
Date: 2009-Jan
A literature review examined the evidence on the harms and benefits of alcohol consumption for children and young people. Despite the methodological weakness of research in this field, there was a large body of evidence that reported consistent links between alcohol use and a range of adverse effects.
Source: Dorothy Newbury-Birch et al., Impact of Alcohol Consumption on Young People: A systematic review of published reviews, Research Report RR067, Department for Children, Schools and Families (0845 602 2260)
Date: 2009-Jan