Review : Substance use: whose problem is it?

Abstract

■ Research evidence demonstrates that more young people in the UK are using illegal substances.

■ Every child health professional has a central role to play in the area of substance use.

■ The HAS Report (1996) advocates a 4 tiered approach identifying primary health care staff to providing services for adolescents who use substances.

■ Assessment of a young person's health needs is crucial

■ Nurses are ideally placed to have an impact of health issues affecting young people and substance use cannot be ignored or treated separately.

■ Child health professionals are ideally placed to provide meaningful education and information to young people at risk.