Prevention work 'is crucial to tackling drug addiction and misuse'

Categories

Addiction Treatment
Alcohol
Drugs
Gambling
In the papers
On TV

News Archive

Home » News » Drugs » Prevention work 'is crucial to tackling drug addiction and misuse'

by Change | 9 Jun 2009

Bookmark

E-mail

Investment in drug treatment services is essential says DrugScope.

When tackling drug addiction and misuse, more emphasis is needed on prevention work, according to the UK's leading centre for information on drugs.

DrugScope suggested that as well as education, targeting the risk factors that can contribute to young people developing problems with drug use is important.

Martin Barnes, chief executive of DrugScope, said figures suggest that overall drug use among young people has been falling.

"I think a large part of these figures actually [show] that there is more intense support available, so clearly it's helping and that's why it is vital that investment in drug treatment services does continue," Mr Barnes said.

The comments come as new statistics from the National Treatment Agency (NTA) showed that more people than ever under the age of 30 are getting help for problems with drugs.

According to the NTA, alcohol and cannabis are the main drugs for which young people aged 13 to 18 years old are treated. Heroin and opiates are the most common substances for which people between 19 and 30 years old are treated.

Bookmark this: