Published: 23 March 2005
Hidden Harm
The Government has set out its proposals to reduce the impact of drugs on the lives of children and young people, both in terms of preventing drug abuse and protecting children of drug abusers from harm, by publishing cross departmental strategic guidance on drugs and young people aimed at Drug Action Teams and local Directors of Children's services.
This was accompanied by the publication of the Government's response to the Hidden Harm report.
The response provides an update of progress against all 48 recommendations.
The government says that reducing drug use by young people, particularly the most vulnerable, is central to the its updated Drug Strategy, and choosing not to take illegal drugs forms part an aim within the Every Child Matters agenda for children to be healthy.
The joint approach is being implemented both centrally and regionally, with all Local Authorities in England and their partners expected to make significant progress towards meeting its objectives from April 2005.
More rapid and sustained progress is expected in a number of High Focus Areas, which will develop and test an effective practice model for wider dissemination.
Following the outcome of the Spending Review 2004, the Home Office, Department for Education and Skills, Department of Health and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister have developed the Young People's National Delivery Plan for the period 04-08.
The plan sets out the joint vision for 2008 of local universal and targeted services for young people to prevent harms associated with drugs.
The joint Every Child Matters: Change for Children: Young People and Drugs guidance now published sets out:
- all the key features of the delivery plan, and
- the government's expectations for local delivery.
The plan also sets out proposals for a sharper focus on delivery in a number of High Focus Local Authority areas, where the government says that it intends to
'work more intensively with the Drug Action Team and Local Authority children's services via the Children's Trust (or Children and Young People's Strategic Partnership) to accelerate delivery and make a stronger impact on the trajectory for young people misusing drugs.'
A priority in the High Focus Areas will be to ensure basic systems are in place to identify the most vulnerable young people and track interventions. The Government Office joint teams will work with each of the high focus areas, including by brokering expert support to help them plan and commission services against this model.
Further information
Every Child Matters guidance
Hidden Harm report
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