substance misuse

In 2006, Aberlour Child Care Trust and the Scottish Association of Drug and Alcohol Teams joined together to hold a second Think Tank to address the question 'Alcohol or Drugs' Does it make a difference for the Child?'. This report is entirely drawn from the Think Tank’s discussions and represents the knowledge and views of experienced managers, practitioners and researchers. It does not include evidence from research or the content of policy and guidance documents.

This document sets out a new framework for local partnerships on alcohol and drugs. It aims to ensure that all bodies involved in tackling alcohol and drugs problems are clear about their responsibilities and their relationships with each other; and to focus activity on the identification, pursuit and achievement of agreed, shared outcomes.

This report, drawing on recent high-quality surveys including reviews and meta-analyses of measures that have proved successful in preventing substance abuse, provides professionals with information on effective drug prevention strategies. This publication provides information about best practice in drug prevention for everyone, working in the field as well as those involved in planning and decision-making at European, national, regional and municipal level.

This is the report of the Alcohol and Drugs Delivery Reform Group. In January 2008 the Delivery Reform Group to improve alcohol and drug delivery arrangements and ensure better outcomes for service users was established by the Scottish Government. Members were invited from the Scottish Advisory Committee on Drug Misuse (SACDM) and the Scottish Ministerial Advisory Committee on Alcohol Problems (SMACAP).

In the Borders there are an estimated 1,306 children and young people affected by substance misuse within the family. The Borders Drug & Alcohol Action Team (DAAT) has, over recent years, become increasingly aware of concerns around the impact of parental drug and alcohol misuse on children and young people. Assessing this problem has been a very complex process, and due to the varying levels of awareness and activity between agencies, has been impossible to determine exact numbers of children and families affected in this way.

This report is a 'primer for addiction counselors and recovery coaches' and discusses change in the professional addiction treatment community. Addressed to the thousands of counselors and therapists on the daily firing line, it offers them a renaissance of ideas that will provide the suffering addicts with which they work an increased opportunity for lasting recovery.

This report was commissioned by the Scottish Advisory Committee on Drug Misuse (SACDM) to address the additional non-medical aspects of service required to ensure that people with substance use problems are given every opportunity to recover from their problems.

Research that highlight's some important issues surrounding the role alcohol plays in society, perceptions of what constitutes problem drinking and awareness of and attitudes towards services. It also explores perceptions of 'what works'. A problem for policy-makers is the questionable compatibility of strategies to, on the one hand, stress that ‘getting legless’ is not normal or socially acceptable, while on the other, trying to reduce stigmatisation associated with alcohol problems so as to encourage people to seek help through services.

Case study from Leeds, Yorkshire describing a project run by the voluntary sector which helps young people involved in substance misuse by assessing their particular needs and then putting them in contact with the appropriate agencies to meet those needs. Also offered are implementation tips for others to implement such a 'one-stop shop' approach.

Website of Action on Addiction, a charity which works to reduce the problem of addiction through providing research, treatment, family support, education and training.