| Drugs, Alcohol
and Young People - Training
On the 26th & 27th April, Regional Foster
Placements provided training for staff and carers
in Devon on Drugs, Alcohol and Young People. The
training was run by Harbour Education & Training
Services.
The Harbour team are employed by the NHS. Many
of the staff is experienced front line counsellors
who have worked with a variety of young people
with drug issues.
The programme was designed to enable carers
to gain a basic understanding of substance misuse,
which may arise during the course of the foster
carer’s professional career.
The summary of the course content covered:
• The recognition & effects of commonly
used drugs.
• The law on possession, supply and the
use on the premises.
• Understanding that drugs & alcohol
use is affected by many different factors.
• Understanding the different type of usage.
• Understanding the risk and protective
factors.
• Understanding the cycle of change.
The Harbour team displayed a simulated Drug
box which showed drugs in their commonly found
street forms with information about each drug.
The drugs information was collated into
a K diagram. This explained drugs categories and
main group headings into:
• Stimulants
• Hallucinogens
• Depressants
• Other (that fit in-between including solvents).
Each heading showed the likely physical effects
of drugs on the human body and risks associated.
The Drugs and the Law explained:
• Informing the police
• Police rights of entry
• Finding drugs on the work premises
• Drugs use, production, or young person
supplying on the premises.
The Harbour team highlighted the many factors
that could contribute to drugs/ alcohol use. They
separated the difference between experimental
use, recreational use and dependant usage.
The training then explored factors that could
increase a young person’s vulnerability
to develop problems with drug/alcohol use and
the education needed to reduce it if it should
become an issue.
The Harbour team also made us aware of their
preferred model of intervention when working with
young people. This allowed carers to view and
be informed about the cycle of change, when a
young person wishes to engage into the services
that support them with drug issues.
If you have concerns about a young person in
your care having any involvement with drugs or
alcohol then please record these finding and notify
your social worker or the on call duty.
N, Resource & Support Worker
Useful contacts/ resources:
Connexions Cornwall & Plymouth Centre:
0800 9755111/ 01752 207700
Frank
0800 776600
www.talktofrank.com
Harbour Drug & Alcohol Services
Young People’s Service
01752 314181
Parent line plus
www.parentlineplus.org.uk
0808 800 2222
Drinkline
0800 917 8282
Y- Smart
Barnstaple
www.y-smart.org.uk
Tel - 01271 388162
Tel - 01271 325500
info@ysmart.org.uk
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