substance misuse

The Drug Harm Index (DHI) was developed as the overarching measure for the PSA target to reduce the harm caused by illegal drugs. It combines robust national indicators of the harms generated by illegal drugs into a single-figure time-series index. The harms include drug-related crime, community perceptions of drug problems, drug nuisance, and the various health consequences that arise from drug abuse.

Document offering guidance on good practice around identifying the needs of young people requiring specialist substance misuse treatment.

Case study from East Sussex showing how a multi-agency approach to the issue of substance misuse among young people was developed and offering implementation tips to others on the best ways to achieve the same approach.

Mind is a leading mental health charity in England and Wales and has produced information on many areas of mental health. 'Dual diagnosis' is used in the health services to describe people with mental health problems, who also misuse drugs or alcohol. This booklet is for anyone who wants to know more about this.

The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) report Hidden Harm (2003) outlined key deficits in the provision of services to pregnant drug users, drug using parents and to the children of drug using parents, while highlighting the extent of child exposure to parental drug use. In 2007, a follow-up report assessed what had changed in the intervening period focusing on examples of good practice and positive change. This paper is based on the results from a follow-up postal survey of managers of specialist drug services in the UK.

This document was published by the Scottish Executive in 2003.

The first part of this guidance sets out what is currently known about the extent of parental substance misuse and the impact on children.

Part 2 sets out what agencies need to ask of families when they present with drug or alcohol problems, and provides guidance to staff on identifying risks.

Part 3 offers advice on what kinds of help may be needed, and on how to work together more effectively.

The first part of the guidance sets out what is currently known about the extent of parental problem drug use and the impact on children. The second tackles the complex area of confidentiality and offers advice to agencies about when, and how, to share information. Part 3 outlines what agencies need to ask of families when they present with drug problems.

Paper that has been produced by an expert group of clinicians and academics in the field of substance misuse in Scotland and aims to advise ministers on the place of methadone in the treatment of substance misuse in Scotland.

Summary of practitioner research study looking at how far substance misusing parents changed their lifestyle on learning they were going to have a child.

Report of a practitioner research study looking at how far substance misusing parents changed their lifestyle on learning they were going to have a child.