Young people and AOD Strategies and support Eden Wheatley (Program Coordinator)
Scenario 1 Betsy is your loved one. She is 18. While casually chatting one day, she mentions that her friends have recently been using flakka. She is considering taking it next time they offer it to her. How do you respond?
Presentation overview Overview of Youth Solutions and its service offerings Young Australians and substance use Supporting young people experiencing AOD issues Help, support and resources
Youth Solutions
Youth Solutions Youth drug and alcohol prevention and health promotion charity, established 1988 Primary target group: young people aged 12 25 years Geographic areas: Macarthur and Wingecarribee regions Service offerings include: prevention and health promotion drug and alcohol education community programs information and referral
Meet the team
Meet our Youth Volunteers
Drug and Alcohol Information & Resilience Skills (DAIR) 6 week health promotion program Young people aged 14-16 years Tailored to a group s needs Delivered to groups of 6-15 young people within high schools, community groups and alternate learning facilities
ARTucation 6 creative arts and health promotion program Targets young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 12-16 years Participants create an Aboriginal art inspired mural or creative expression (dance, music or Traditional Indigenous Games)
Harm Minimisation A framework made up of 3 pillars: supply reduction demand reduction harm reduction Aims to reduce drug-related harms by using various strategies.
Young people and substance use
Australian Youth Development Index 2016 Health and wellbeing was the only youth development domain in which Australia saw a deterioration between 2010 and 2015 in the Global YDI Biggest health risk factors: Alcohol and illicit drugs Sexually transmitted illnesses Obesity Mental illness Recent illicit drug use amongst youth showed the national average almost doubling from 21% to 39% over five years.
What are 12-17 year olds really using? Australian Drug Foundation 2014
Trends in young Australians Alcohol Almost 1 in 5 people aged 14 or older consumed more than 2 standard drinks per day on average, exceeding the lifetime risk guidelines. 1 in 4 (26%) had, on at least 1 occasion per month, consumed alcohol at a level placing them at risk of injury (AIHW 2017)
Trends in young Australians Tobacco Smoking 13% of Australians smoked daily in 2013, the lowest rate ever reported. Fewer children are being exposed to tobacco smoke inside their home, with adults smoking inside less than 4% homes with dependent children. In 2013, 1 in 5 smokers successfully gave up for at least a month (AIHW 2017)
Illicit drugs in Australia In 2013, 15% of Australians had used an illicit drug in the previous 12 months and 42% had used an illicit drug in their life time. Cannabis, ecstasy, meth/amphetamine and cocaine were the most commonly used illicit drugs (AIHW 2017) Cannabis Ecstasy Crystal methamphetamine Meth / amphetamine / Cocaine
Supporting young people experiencing AOD issues
Brainstorming activity What are the barriers to help seeking for a young person?
Barriers to accessing services Geography and lack of transport Low income Language Culture Aboriginality Poor access to health service information or knowledge of services Laws, customs, and practices. Provider attitudes about adolescents Stigma Pre-contemplation (NSW Health 2014 and WHO 2017)
Overcoming barriers and improving youth health Helping young people to build resilience Reduce risk taking and minimise harm Build early intervention services Strengthen the health and resilience of vulnerable children and young people Increase health service capacity to proactively engage with young people and young carers on emerging issues Involve young people in the design and delivery of services that meet their needs (NSW Health 2014)
Workers guide: What you can do to help Educate yourself Offer hope Be encouraging Avoid scare tactics and judgment Enquire about wellbeing of parent/loved one Seek help and support Self care
Scenario 2 Callum walks into your service. He is highly agitated. His pupils are dilated and skin sweaty. He says he wants help to get off the gear. What do you do?
Help, support and resources
Emergency and crisis Emergency services (Ambulance, Police & Fire) Triple zero (000) Community Mental Health Emergency Team (CoMHET) 02 4629 5400 1300 787 799 (after hours) Lifeline 131 114 www.lifeline.org.au Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467 www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au Counselling Online 1800 888 263 www.counsellingonline.org.au Link2Home homelessness line 1800 152 152
Local Youth Help and Support Services South Western Sydney Drug Health Services Central Intake Line Phone: 9616 8586 This intake line provides information and referral for all Drug Health treatment services including: inpatient and outpatient detoxification, opioid treatment, harm reduction (needle and syringe program), court diversion and counselling. Website: www.swslhd.nsw.gov.au/drughealth/ FYRST Parramatta and Fairfield Phone: 02 9687 3499 (Parramatta), 0411 204 329 (Fairfield) Provides counselling, case management, crisis intervention, relapse prevention, drug and alcohol workshops, aftercare and mobile support for young people aged 16 25 years. Website: salvos.org.au/youthlink/fyrst/
Local Youth Help and Support Services Mission Australia Adolescent Drug and Alcohol Service (MAASS) Macarthur Phone: 02 4621 7400 Mission Australia s South West Youth Service provides free counselling to youth and young adults aged 12-24 who are facing issues with drugs and alcohol, gambling or general life concerns. Website: sd.missionaustralia.com.au/274-south-west-youth-services Uniting Getting it Together Scheme Phone: 02 4629 5110 Program based in Campbelltown for youth aged 12-25 with concerns relating to alcohol and other drug use. Provides case management, linking clients with mental health services, counselling, rehabilitation, recreation, employment and schooling. Website: www.uniting.org
Help and Support family specific Family Drug Support Phone: 1300 368 186 This 24 hour telephone support line is for families affected by drugs and alcohol and also provides education and referral, and facilitates support groups across Australia. Website: www.fds.org.au Family Support Services Catholic Care Phone: 02 9740 0111 Address: 9 Garrong Rd, Lakemba NSW Provides assistance to vulnerable families with children who are experiencing difficulties and stress in their lives, which may effect their ability to parent effectively. Services include casework, home visiting, group work, parenting groups and playgroups. Website: www.catholiccare.org/families/parenting/family-support-services Parent Line NSW Phone: 1300 1300 52 Parent Line is a telephone counselling, information and referral service for parents of children ages 0 to 18 who live in NSW. Parents, grandparents and carers anywhere in the state can call Parent Line for no more than the cost of a local call. Monday to Friday 9am to 9 pm. Weekends 4pm to 9pm. Website: www.parentline.org.au
Useful Resources Australian Drug Foundation www.adf.org.au Australian Drug Information Network (ADIN) www.adin.com.au National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre www.ncpic.org.au Youth Solutions website www.youthsolutions.com.au
Connect with us youthsolutions.com.au YouthSolutionsNSW @youth_solutions @YouthSolutions PO Box 112 Macarthur Square NSW 2560 02 4628 2319 info@youthsolutions.com.au
Scenario 3 Drew calls your service. His son is using ice and experiences psychosis whilst using the drug. He has tried to get his son to get help but his son doesn t think there s an issue. What do you do?
References Australian Drug Foundation 2014, What 12-17 year olds are really using, Drug Info, viewed 27 July 2017, <http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/infographics/what-7-12-year-olds-are-really-using-infographic>. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2017, Alcohol and other drugs, Australian Government, viewed 27 July 2017, <http://www.aihw.gov.au/alcohol-and-other-drugs/>. Australian Youth Development Index 2016, A Jurisdictional overview of Youth Development, 2016 Report, viewed 27 July 2017, <http://www.youthaction.org.au/australian_ydi>. NSW Health 2014, Healthy Safe and Well: A Strategic Health Plan for Children, Young People and Families 2014-24, NSW Government, viewed 27 July 2017, <http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/kidsfamilies/publications/healthy-safe-well.pdf>. WHO 2017, Child and adolescent health and development, Adolescent health and development, World Health Organization, viewed 27 July 2017 <http://www.searo.who.int/entity/child_adolescent/topics/adolescent_health/en/>. Youth Solutions 2016, Parent Information Booklet Drugs and Alcohol. Youth Solutions.