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Substance Misuse

Reducing barriers to learning.


Substance abuse or misuse is the harmful use of psychoactive substances, such as drugs or alcohol. Substance misuse can have a huge impact on children, whether they are misusing substances themselves, or else living with an adult or caregiver, who misuses substances.

If you are worried about the safety of a child, please contact the Derby Safeguarding team.

   Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

Parental or caregiver substance misuse is one of the indirect ACEs, that can have serious adverse effects on a child or young person. There are links between ACEs and the development of harmful behaviours and also physical and mental ill health in later life. For more information on AC...Read more

   Further reading

'What we know about young people in alcohol and drug treatment' by Rosanna O’Connor writing for ...Read more

   Further Support

For support with drug addiction in young people, please see the NHS website ...Read more

   NHS Drug Addition Help

If you need or someone around you needs treatment for drug addiction, you're entitled to NHS care in the same way as anyone else who has a health problem. Check it out the NHS website for more information here:...Read more