Transcript YOUNG INJECTING USERS 18 YEARS AND UNDER

YOUNG INJECTING USERS
UNDER 18 years of age
David Gordon Team Coordinator
Mobile NEX and Outreach Services
Email: [email protected]
Tel number:02380679593
Areas for discussion
• What might constitute factors elevating the
“risk of significant harm” for a young
person under 16 in their use of drugs or
involvement in this lifestyle?
• Were the existing Needle & Syringe
Scheme to offer a service to under 18’s,
what training would be required for the
staff working with this age group?
Areas for discussion contd.
• Would age specific harm reduction
literature be required to be given out to
under 18’s on first contact at Needle &
Syringe Scheme?
• What safeguards (for both the young
person and Nex worker) need to be
implemented in the seeking of parental
consent prior to offering advice or
treatment or both to the young person?
Areas for discussion contd.
• How would the Steering Committee view the need
for a link worker from Social Services Child
Protection Team to Needle Syringe Scheme to offer
advice, guidance and rapid referral for investigation
in cases of suspected ‘significant harm’? Could this
link be better accessed by having a named worker
within the Needle and Syringe Scheme for contact
by the Child Protection Team?
• Are there over-riding considerations that strongly
recommend a specific “stand-alone service” Needle
& Syringe Scheme for young people under 18?
Delivering Needle Exchange To
Young People
• “It is recommended that young people’s drug treatment,
including needle exchange, should be provided as
specialist dedicated services, separate and distinct from
adult services. However, where adult needle exchange
services are having to meet the needs of young drug
injectors, separate staff and times (and venues if
possible) should be allocated, and liaison with the local
social services department should be established to
facilitated appropriate staff checking and training.”
Taken from ‘Needle Exchange for Young people under 18 years old’
Drug Scope, 2005
• Dave Gordon
• Team Coordinator Mobile NEX and
Outreach Services
• [email protected]
• 02380 679593