Young people and drugs - young people talk directly to government

As figures are released showing that young people's drug use is falling, a group of young people working with the drug prevention charity Mentor UK send out a strong message to government about what is needed to maintain and improve on this reduction.

> Download the Mentor UK Youth Involvement Project report...

Between May 2006 and March 2008 Mentor UK worked with sixty three young people aged 12-20 from around England and Wales. Each young person participated for a year, during which time they attended residential meetings every 2-3 months to develop their ideas around drug prevention, to take part in consultation meetings and to receive training.

We developed an approach that enabled the views of a group of vulnerable young people to reach some really key people developing policy around drugs and young people. The young people:
  • Influenced two sets of National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance on drug and alcohol interventions with young people;
  • Inputted into the 2008 Government drug strategy "Drugs: Protecting Families and Communities";
  • Presented their views to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association conference "Tackling Drugs, Changing Communities Challenges for Parliamentarians";
  • Met with Vernon Coaker MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Crime Reduction;
  • Presented to the All Party Parliamentary Group on Drug Misuse and Made a presentation to the Office of the Children's Commissioner.
This has resulted in some significant and positive changes to policy relating to drug prevention work with young people. For example, in response to the young people's feedback, NICE amended their public health guidance to make it more relevant for young people and therefore more effective in helping them avoid drug misuse.

> Download the Mentor UK Youth Involvement Project report...

> Download the press release...