Split youth and adult drug services, concludes review

The final report of the commission, launched last year to examine ways to address the city’s drug problem, said that all support offered to young drug users should be separated from that offered to adults.

It said that while there are separate young and adult treatment services in the city, too often 18-year-olds are inappropriately treated alongside drug-addicted adults.

“Quite appropriately, there are separate treatment services in the city, ensuring that young drug users receive age-specific care, and are not brought into contact with older users in adult services,” said the report.

“However, there is a problem with transitions between these two systems when clients reach the age of 18.”

Promotion of services and prevention work in the city also needs to be more creative and make greater use of web and social media according to the report.

Other recommendations included creating drug “consumption rooms” to reduce drug-related deaths and better evidence gathering about drug-taking trends, in particular the rise of so-called “legal highs”.

The Safe in the City Partnership Board, which includes representatives from Brighton & Hove City Council, will consider the findings on 30 April.

According to the British Crime Survey of 2011/12, the city was home to an estimated 60,255 people aged 16 to 59 who use illegal drugs.

The most popular drug in the city is cannabis, although there is also widespread use of heroin, cocaine and amphetamines.