The Development of a Unique Designated Community Drug Service for Adolescents: policy, prevention and education implications

Abstract

This paper describes the initiation and development of the first designated service for adolescent drug misusers in the UK between 1995 and 1997. The priorities and objectives of the multi-agency partnership and multi-professional team were to provide the first recognized designated methadone service for adolescent drug misusers, to identify and treat psychiatric comorbidity and to co-ordinate and liaise with other agencies and professionals. The objectives to attract, engage and retain adolescent drug misusers into treatment were achieved with 272 young people attending. The project has provided a service in an appropriate environment, staffed by personnel competent in responding effectively to the complex needs with which these young people present. Protocols have been developed which ensure a focused and timely response, and highlight the frustrations inherent in the absence of a designated service. Since there are few models of good practice nationally, and, as a result, even less outcome research, th...