Kirklees Youth Substance Misuse Support Service for Young People and Families

The service will continue to support young people up to 21, with adult services taking over from 21. For 18-21-year-olds needing clinical treatment. It aims to help young people make informed choices about substance use and raise awareness of associated risks. Support extends to parents, carers, schools, colleges, and statutory services. Delivery occurs in accessible community venues across Kirklees.

Interventions include one-to-one sessions, early support, harm reduction, family-focused work addressing hidden harm, clinical care, group activities, professional training, and assistance for early help and social work teams. The service will support young people engaging in early risk-taking behaviours, including experimentation and recreational substance use.

Increased vulnerabilities and complexities and prevalent amongst those accessing specialised services. Specialist support is available for young people at risk of criminal exploitation, young people involved in gangs, county lines and dealing drugs. There is more focus around hidden harm support to young people including a strategic approach to support primary and secondary education.

The service provides for increasing referrals to young people per quarter requiring Hidden Harm interventions. They ensure equity of support across vulnerable groups of young people, ensuring early intervention and prevention work is increasing and is being really effective identifying at risk young people through a substance misuse lens. Support is provided in relation drugs education in schools.