Young offenders, drugs and prevention

There is evidence that drug use by young people is on the increase. As concern about youthful drug use has heightened, so increased attention has been paid to providing education and treatment with the aim of preventing or reducing use, or reducing harm. Although targeting interventions is problematic it is important and, consequently, the focus on 'high risk' groups has intensified. As research confirms the link between drug use and delinquency, it is therefore felt that the criminal justice system provides one possible means of identifying a ueiy significant target population: young offenders. This paper looks at what is known about the levels and types of drug use among young offenders, examines drug-related interventions within the youth justice system, and concludes by looking at tuio developing programmes in the East and West Midlands which are currently being evaluated by the author.