Substance Misuse (Drugs and Alcohol)

Safeguarding children where parents or carers misuse drugs and /or alcohol

Substance misuse may include experimental, recreational, chaotic and dependent use of alcohol and or drugs which may be acquired legally, illegally, be obtained with or without prescription and may be used singly or in any combination.

Substance misuse affects different people in different ways depending on what is used, how it is taken and the physical/psychological state of the person and their circumstances. The impact on the individual may range from negligible to extremely serious. Any drug, including alcohol, has the potential to impact on the adult’s ability to care for their children. 

Substance misuse (drugs and / or alcohol) does not on its own automatically indicate that children are at risk of abuse or neglect. However substance misuse may cause physical, psychological, social, interpersonal, financial and / or legal problems for the parents or carers that affects their ability to meet the needs of their children.

Parental substance misuse can impact on children of any age and the impact may be cumulative. Practitioners working with parents or carers should remain aware that misuse of substances is associated with harm to children, especially when combined with other features such as domestic abuse and / or mental ill health.

Children who live with adults who misuse substances may require additional services to ensure that their needs are met and it is essential that information is shared appropriately in order to aid the assessment of needs and risks.

What should I do if I have concerns about parental substance misuse?

If you are concerned about parental substance misuse you can find more information in the Derby and Derbyshire Safeguarding Children Procedures.

Always discuss your concerns with the senior person in your organisation who is responsible for safeguarding and child protection.

If you are a young person, parent or carer, you can contact Children's Social Care to discuss your concerns.

Assessment Tools 

are available to help practitioners work with parents to understand the impact on the family of substance misuse.

Pregnant Women who misuse substances

Substance misuse by pregnant women can have a significant impact on the development of the unborn baby. Early help for the mother to manage the specific substance(s) that she is using should be obtained at the earliest opportunity. The midwifery service will provide expert advice and support the mother to link to the appropriate services.

If you are concerned about the impact of substance misuse, use the Multi-Agency Protocol for Pre-birth Assessments and Interventions to make sure the right action is taken at the right time.

Research by the NSPCC sets out the evidence to examine:

• the causes and consequences of infant abuse and neglect
• and effective and promising interventions during pregnancy and the baby’s first year.

The report includes new analysis into the number of babies under 1 year who are affected by parental substance misuse, mental illness and domestic abuse which are all important risk factors for abuse and neglect.

Resources 

Derby City Council have published drug and alcohol safety advice leaflets:

• Keep Safe: safe storage of Methadone, alcohol and other medication
• Keep Safe: alcohol
• Keep Safe: injecting equipment

Public Health England have also published a Dealing with a 'Mamba' overdose poster. 

Safeguarding children who misuse drugs and /or alcohol

Derby City Hospital Emergency Departments protocol when a child/young person presents under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs (including New Psychoactive Substances) is for health professionals from emergency departments treating children and young people under the influence of alcohol and other substances who reside in Derby and Derbyshire.

Derby Public Health have developed an exemplar policy  based on national guidance to support schools with the management of drug related incidents. There is also a to enable schools to effectively manage incidents. 

Derbyshire Schools Net also provide information and resources for keeping children safe in education.

Derby Drug and Alcohol Recovery Partnership and Derbyshire Recovery Partnership can provide further information, advice and support for those affected by drugs and alcohol.

Talk to Frank can provide up to date information and confidential advice about all types of drug.

New Psychoactive Substances - NPS

The law on so called “legal highs” changed in May 2016. So-called “legal highs” (psychoactive substances) are substances which seek to mimic the effects  of drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy, but are not currently controlled as class A, B, or C drugs.

It is now illegal to supply any so-called “legal highs” for human consumption. This includes selling them or giving them away for free (even to friends) when they are going to be taken for their psychoactive effects. Importing them from abroad is also be a crime.

Police will take action where they find people committing these offences. Punishments range from a prohibition notice, which is a formal warning, to 7 years in prison.

Drugs that are already illegal, such as cocaine, ecstasy, heroin and a number of so-called legal highs that have already been controlled as class A, B or C drugs, are not affected by these changes to the law.

Drug and Alcohol resources for young people

Early Break

Early Break has launched a new microsite with resources to raise young people’s awareness of drug and alcohol misuse. 
Information includes: relevant legislation; information about specific drugs; harm reduction; self-help leaflets.

Angelus Foundation

Angelus Foundation is committed to help raise awareness about the dangers of legal highs and party drugs and now have a group of experts to advise on its work programme. We develop online resources including short educative films to help young people re-assess the risk of taking these untested substances.

New Psychoactive Substances Resource Pack

In response to the NPS expert panel, the government committed to developing a NPS resource pack for informal educators and frontline practitioners to use to prevent drug taking amongst young people. 

The Drug Strategy 2017

This Home Office strategy sets out how the government and its partners, at local, national and international levels, will take action to tackle drug misuse and the harm it causes.