A new report about alcohol and youth offending in London was launched today. The report by Mentor and Alcohol Concern looks at young offenders in London and their attitudes to alcohol and other risky behaviours.
The 12-month study confirms strong links between alcohol misuse, mental health issues, and educational disengagement. The findings suggest that young people think alcohol is more harmful than cannabis and more action is needed to help them understand the negative effects alcohol can have on their decision making.
Other recommendations from Demon Drink?
http://www.trustforlondon.org.uk/backup/WEB-1009_Alcohol_and_Youth_Offending_Report.pdf
are:- Follow NICE Guidance on alcohol use (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) around alcohol and substance misuse when working with young people
- Don’t see alcohol misuse as a single issue – it’s likely to be one in a ‘package’ of risks for vulnerable young people, along with educational disengagement and mental health, for example. Universal services such as schools, as much as youth offending teams, need to be aware of the links between truanting, exclusion, alcohol and other risks
- Young Londoners, including young offenders, drink far less than their peers
- Further research is needed in other parts of the country into the relationship between alcohol and youth offending
The 12-month study was carried out with research overseen by Middlesex University. The project was funded by Trust for London.
11 December 2013