Adolescents in Salford are using substances at a younger age, according to the Salford Drug and Substance report.
The data found that almost a quarter of young people in Salford engaging in drug-related treatment services are aged under 14. Meanwhile, the national average is lower, with only one-in-ten young people in treatment in the same age group.
The most frequently used drugs amongst under-18s are cannabis, alcohol, ecstasy and cocaine.
Janine Day is the Operations Director at Early Break, a confidential support service for emotional health, substance use, and family wellbeing for young people across Salford and Greater Manchester.
Reacting to the release of the figures, she said that the organisation had ramped up their efforts to reduce drug use among young people.
“We’re doing more prevention work,” she said, “I think when you look at that, it’s about a sign of an integrated prevention, service and prevention offer and that actually we’re working with youth services.”
In a statement Grace Willsher, Regional Head of Young Person Service Delivery at WithYou, said: “A lot of schools have a ‘just say no’ approach of zero tolerance, so if a young person was found to have cannabis on them, they would immediately be excluded rather than have someone sit down with them and try to understand what’s going on.
“Young people might not want to come forward in school to say they need help due to that fear of being permanently excluded.”
The data also showed that young people in Salford are in drug treatment longer than the national average, with almost 20% of young people in Salford in drug treatment for over a year. But, nationally, 7% of young people exit treatment after the same period.
On the surface, this may seem concerning, but Ms Day explained that a lot of young people enter the service with co-existing conditions and vulnerable backgrounds. The longer time ensures the treatment is person-focused to build resilience and prevent relapse.
“Our work is more thorough and more in depth,” she said, “I’d rather deliver a good qualitative service rather than a sticking plaster that’s gone right there we go.”
Early Break offers peer groups and specialist support services to young people and their families across Salford, more information about the service the charity provides is on their website.
