Parents prioritised as government unveils its 10-year drugs strategy

By Sarah Cooper Wednesday, 27 February 2008

Children whose parents are drug users will get more assistance under a drugs strategy published today (27 February).

Drugs education. Credit: www.drugs.gov.uk

The 10-year strategy contains a package of measures targeted at families, especially those where children are dependent on drug-using parents.

A spokeswoman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), one of four government departments behind the strategy, said these parents would get priority for treatment and access to parenting courses. She added there would be more support for extended family members, such as grandparents, who look after children while their parents receive treatment.

Jo Butcher, assistant director of wellbeing at the National Children's Bureau, welcomed the family focus. She said: "I was very encouraged by the strategy. There is going to be an emphasis on maximising the proactive role of families and providing support to parents."

Eric Carlin, chair of the Drug Education Forum, said the strategy should focus on drug abuse as a public health issue. He believes schools can play an important role.

"There is talk about how to strengthen drug education," he said. "We know families need to be supported, but schools have to help with that."

But funding is still an issue for many. Martin Barnes, chief executive of the charity DrugScope, said: "Funding is particularly a concern for services working with young people on prevention and treatment. We know some services have been told to expect reductions."

Susie Ramsay, policy officer at the Children's Society, agreed that funding is needed to train professionals: "It is essential that adequate resources are put in place to tackle the levels of harm, including specialist training on substance misuse." As CYP Now went to press the DCSF said a decision had yet to be made about funding.

The strategy was also worked on by the Home Office, Department of Health and Department for Work and Pensions.

www.dcsf.gov.uk.