Improving Access to Drug and Alcohol Services for Young Londoners

ADPH London, in partnership with OHID’s National and London divisions, hosted a London Regional Practice Improvement Event on 11 July 2024. The event brought together ninety-eight key professionals working in young people’s substance misuse across the capital, including public health leads, commissioners and providers.  

In recent years, London has received additional national drugs funding, mostly directed towards adult services. However, a newly elected Government, together with an increasing focus on the needs of young people, presented an opportune moment for London to come together, to inform and support OHID’s approach to children and young people’s substance misuse treatment, while simultaneously launching ADPH London’s Practice Improvement Programme, in partnership with OHID.  

The focus of the day was on understanding what could be done to improve young people’s access to drug and alcohol treatment in London, with presentations on research, London data and local case studies, demonstrating different approaches to improving the effectiveness of services. Delegates were invited to suggest key themes to be considered in future national, regional and local policy. 

Several themes emerged as priorities, such as the need for more intensive support for complex cases, a need for better data recording and sharing amongst services and the necessity for services to be welcoming, non-stigmatising and designed with input from young people. 

Dudu Sher-Arami, ADPH London Co Lead for Substance Misuse and DPH for Enfield said: 

“This event was hugely successful in terms of the level of energy, ideas and insights generated, demonstrating partnership working at its very best. We saw examples of some of the fantastic work already underway across London and this forum enabled us to share and learn from these examples of best practice.

“Considering the bigger picture and addressing the wider determinants through understanding the reality of young people lives is paramount. We need to continue to challenge the status quo and work across the system to support more young people through practice improvement.”