9 November 2006
Drug Education Forum Welcomes Guidance for Youth Service
The Drug Education Forum welcomes the publication of new guidance for the youth service on drugs issues. Drugs: Guidance for the Youth Service has been produced by DrugScope and Alcohol Concern.
Speaking on behalf of the Drug Education Forum Richard McKie said:
Young people who come to youth services have the right to expect that they will get effective drug education and we believe that this guidance will help youth workers make sure that happens.
We know that the majority of young people don?t take illegal drugs, but that doesn?t stop them worrying about the impact they are having on their friends and the wider community. The youth service is in an excellent position to address these concerns and help young people cope with situations involving drugs.
The new publication from DrugScope builds on existing government guidance for schools.
Drugs: Guidance for the youth service consists of eight sections: a foreword from Tom Wylie, chief executive of The National Youth Agency; contextual information on young people’s drug use in the UK; a guide to working in partnership; an introduction to key issues in drug education and prevention; a best practice guide for drug incident management in youth services; information on policy development; drugs guidance for outreach and other settings, and information on training about drugs for youth workers. Both the main guidance and the summary document will be available for download free on the Education and Prevention section on the DrugScope homepage and a limited number of print copies will be available. See www.drugscope.org.uk for more information.