PREVENTING LATER SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS IN AT-RISK CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) has published this review which adds to the current knowledge and understanding of risk factors in the development of later drug problems and dependence.  The review focuses on the mental health and behavioural problems that can develop during childhood.

Indicated prevention is a relatively new branch of drug prevention and is part of the ‘prevention chain’, which includes universal and selective prevention.  Its aim is to prevent the development of dependence, diminish frequency of use and avoid ‘dangerous’ patterns of substance use (e.g. moderate instead of binge-drinking).

This report has been prepared by a multidisciplinary team of physicians, psychologists and pedagogues and presents a review of research, in EU Member States and outside the EU, and preventive interventions for this target group, including interventions for families with vulnerable children or for vulnerable families. 

In undertaking the review it was seen that target populations at high risk of developing a substance use disorder later in life (e.g. foster care populations with high rates of psychiatric disorders) often go undiagnosed and untreated.  The fields of youth welfare and medicine often appear to coexist as mutually exclusive entities with little or no interaction, missing the opportunity of identifying and addressing the needs of the high-risk population.

An important message of this report is that more networking is necessary to detect and treat high-risk individuals.  A key aim of this publication is to help establish the common understanding that is required to enable this level of networking among those involved in the care of vulnerable young people.

Indicated prevention is a relatively new branch of drug prevention and is part of the ‘prevention chain’, which includes ‘universal’ and ‘selective’ prevention.  Its aim is to prevent the development of dependence, diminish frequency of use and avoid ‘dangerous’ patterns of substance use (e.g. moderate instead of binge-drinking).

Please see below for a copy of the review.