Early help can nip it in the bud

Youth justice links to addiction problems

A LEADING Geelong youth expert says national research revealing young people under youth justice supervision are 30 times more likely to receive drug or alcohol support reinforces the need for early intervention.

Barwon Child Youth and Family executive director of client services Max Broadley welcomed a new report, released yesterday, from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare highlighting the overlap between youth justice supervision and drug treatment.

The report found one in three young people aged 10 to 17 under youth justice supervision during the four years to June 2016 also received alcohol and other drug treatment services at some point during the same period.

While BCYF does not keep localised statistics on the crossover between justice and alcohol and other drugs services Mr Broadley said local anecdotal evidence showed drug use, homelessness and justice issues were interconnected.

“BCYF is not surprised by the AIHW report released today showing there is a cooccurrence of problems in young people’s lives,” Mr Broadley said.

“The average age young people begin experimenting with alcohol in Australia is 15 years and seven months, so indicators of early age alcohol use would intersect with a number of other risk factors in young people’s lives.”

According to AIHW, 23 per cent of young people under youth justice supervision received treatment for cannabis as their principle drug of concern, one in 12 for alcohol and one in 20 for amphetamines.

“(The) report highlights the considerable overlap between young people under youth justice supervision and those receiving drug and alcohol treatment services,” AIHW spokeswoman Anna Ritson said.

Mr Broadley said BCYF’s Geelong Project, which could be expanded nationally, was an example of an early intervention program that could reduce the risk of young people falling into justice or addiction patterns.

“It is our experience that a range of concerns such as family conflict, homelessness, drug and alcohol use, justice issues, mental health and early school leaving are interrelated,” Mr Broadley said.

“We know we have a much better chance of reducing adverse outcomes for young people when we intervene early to prevent this level of complexity occurring.”

“We know we have a much better chance of reducing adverse outcomes for young people when we intervene early … “ BARWON CHILD YOUTH AND FAMILY ’ S MAX BROADLEY