Young Persons Drug and Alcohol Service

Kent County Council (KCC) is commissioning a specialist Young Person’s Drug and Alcohol service to reduce the harm caused by substance misuse and to improve the health and wellbeing of children and young people in Kent.

Drug and alcohol misuse poses a significant risk to a young person’s physical and psychological health and development. In particular the adolescent brain is known to be highly susceptible to alcohol harms. By delaying the age at which young people start drinking, they are less likely to engage in health risk behaviours and be less likely to become dependent on alcohol (KCC, 2016). Parental substance misuse is also known to cause a significant degree of harm to children and families.
National and local evidence suggests that the majority of young people who misuse substances are likely to be using alcohol or cannabis, although current policy models are being challenged by the growth of the new psychoactive substances market.

The current Young Person’s Drug and Alcohol service was competitively tendered in 2012 and is delivered by a health and substance misuse charity. In February 2017 endorsement was given to extend the current contract to 31st December 2017 to allow for the procurement of a new service from 1st January 2018.

There is a need to re-commission an integrated drug and alcohol service for young people in Kent, incorporating specialist community treatment and early intervention. The service will contribute to the following outcomes:
- Reduce substance misuse related harm caused to young people, their families and communities
- Improved long-term emotional, mental and physical health, well-being, and quality of life for young people, their parents and carers and their families, affected by substance misuse
- Well-informed and supported families, children and young people, including but not limited to; improved relationships with family members and friend
- Focus on building greater resilience within families
- Reduced substance misuse related crime, anti-social behaviour and re-offending
- Increased engagement in positive activities with prosocial peers, education and training including but not limited to; a reduction in the number of young people who are excluded from school as a result of substances misuse
- Increased housing stability for young people
- Improved public health and reduced health inequalities in Kent, including but not limited to; prevention of substance misuse related deaths, teenage pregnancy and blood borne viruses.