NORCAS Launches New Youth Service
Posted on | October 13, 2010 | No Comments
NORCAS launches a new service to help educate and advise young people and those working with young people on issues surrounding substance misuse.
A young person who develops a dependency on drugs or alcohol is more susceptible to unemployment, crime and educational underachievement, at a great cost to themselves, those around them and wider society. Each year around 5% of young people leave school without any qualifications, costing the UK economy £18 billion per year, with youth unemployment costing £90 million per week.
Early education, before a young person becomes a problematic drug or alcohol user, is a powerful tool in enabling the individual to make an informed life choice. Those adults who interact with young people have a vital role to play in offering educated information and advice and therefore increasing the potential for change.
The new NORCAS youth service will encompass a number of programmes which include:
- Confidential help and advice for young people aged 12-19 years via drug and alcohol workshops in Norfolk and Suffolk, screening and referral, one-to-one support and signposting.
- A specific project in the Ipswich area offering one to one support for 19-25 year olds regarding problematic recreational drug use.
- A service specifically designed for parents and professionals who are in regular contact with young people, including teachers, GPs, social workers and housing providers. The service will provide education and prevention group work around addictive behaviours. The focus will be on providing information in a way that is likely to be absorbed by young people. The NORCAS Youth Research 2009, showed that young people are very aware of whether they are receiving credible advice and information.
Chris Lee, head of youth services for NORCAS says, “The new youth service is independently funded by NORCAS, enhancing core services by plugging vital gaps in the current provision. We fully support a multi-agency partnership approach to managing substance abuse among youth in the community and NORCAS has the skills and expertise required to deliver education and advice to those working with young people.”
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