getting a life alcohol, drugs and early years alan sinclair
TRANSCRIPT
Getting a Life
Alcohol, Drugs and Early Years
Alan Sinclair
How can Scotland reduce the damage to its population through alcohol and drugs by half by the year 2025?
PREVALENCE AND HARM
Alcohol £3.5 billion industry in Scotland
In last 25 years alcohol has become 62% more affordable
Drugs, contradictory evidence on growth, by 2025 drug abuse could move from 1% of the population to 2-3%.
Growth
Urgency
Compass bearing
THE TERRAIN
GENETIC
NURTURE
Free will
Luck
Fashion
Deprivation
Pleasure
NURSE FAMILY PARTNERSHIPTarget : Two year support to very disadvantaged
young mothers during and after first pregnancy
15 year follow up: 44% fewer maternal behavioural problems due
to alcohol & drug abuse 56% fewer days of alcohol consumption on part
of 15 year old children
Perry Pre School
Target: Most disadvantaged inner city black children, between 3 and 5 years.
Results on 40 year follow up:Programme Group Control group
Used sedatives 17% 43%Sleeping pills/Tranquilisers
Marijuana 48% 71%
Heroin 0% 9%
The most important 6 years of a persons life are up to the age of 5
From week 20 of pregnancy until week 40 foetal brain volume increases x 17
From Birth to 5 years increases x4
Programme Hypothesis Growing sponges
Impact of Neglect
How do children develop?
ATTACHMENT Sensitive care and response Empathy Neglect plus harsh discipline
“Children are a reflection of the world in which they develop”
HORMONES
CORTISOL prepares us for flight or fight
Produced in normal amounts is helpful
Overexposed and brain flooded – thermostat jammed
Low cortisol associated with alcoholism, detachment and
aggression
High cortisol associated with fearfulness and depression
By 6 months cortisol level is set for good or ill
American Academy of Science 2000“From neurons to neighbourhoods”
Genetic & environment work together in a dynamic way in brain development and human behaviour
Early relationships - support and adaptation
- risk and dysfunction
Have the capacity to increase the favourable odds
Child Wellbeing in the EUAcute Drug Related Deaths Under 25yrs of Age in EU
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Nethe
rland
s
Sweden
Denm
ark
Finlan
d
Spain
Slove
nia
Ger
man
y
Luxe
mbo
urg
Irelan
d
Austri
a
Franc
eM
alta
Italy
Gre
ece
Polan
d
Portu
gal
Czech
Rep
ublic
Unite
d Kin
gdom
Latv
ia
Eston
ia
Lith
uani
a
Child Wellbeing
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Drug Deaths
Child Wellbeing
Drug Deaths Under 25yrs
Would you like £1 million each and every year for the rest of your life?
PUZZLE
Why is it that in the face of the greatest horrors (e.g Nazi death camp) some people survive?
Why is it that some people in the lap of comfort kill themselves or implode on alcohol and drugs?
DIED LIVEDGave up on ‘inner hold’ He who had a ‘why’ to live can
almost bear any ‘how’
Loss of faith in future Make a victory or challenge of the experience
“Life ultimately means taking responsibility to find the right answers to its problems and to fulfil the tasks which it constantly sets for each individual.”
Viktor Frankl
PREDICTIVE FACTORS FOR ILLICIT DRUG ABUSE
Parental Discipline
Family Cohesion
Parental Monitoring
Peer Drug Use
Drug Availability
Genetic Profile
Self esteem
Hedonistic Attitudes
Rate of risk to protective factors
Deprivation?
Diversity?
Source: Home Office. A Literature Review
FRONT FOOT
Target = Prevalence and Harm
Early years & protective factors Double hit parent and child Golden Moment
RESILIENCEAbility to adapt to different experiences –
emotional well being against the odds.
People I trust…….............at least one secure attachment
I am a loveable person…..support of family & friends
I can solve problems……..positive nursery, school or community experience
BUILD RESILIENCE & PROTECTIVE FACTORS
Policy and Investment Priority Support Parents Children Centres Define services with respect to children Pedagogues
Double Hit Parent and Child
Support parent – tone Risk assessment at pregnancy Engagement Whole household Home learning environment + good pre-
school + good primary school
Rate of Return on Investment in Education
Source: James Heckman
Like Stern Report
3:1 to 7:1 by 21 years
12-16% for £1 invested
but gains through life
Cost Benefit
Early Years - A PRIORITY
10 year strategy + 3500 Children Centres Ireland investment + Cabinet Minister Pedagogues in northern Europe Alliance of criminal justice, health,
education, skills and economics Culture, what we do as people
IndividualRelationship
Community
Societal
Support for parentsSecure attachmentNew norm on drug/alcohol abuseFind meaning in one anotherTarget households and familyEngage
Recognise the problemChange cultural normsParenting permission & knowledgeSupport parents who struggleChildren can provide healthy networksMore parent self help networks
Investment in early years10/20 year strategyPriority statusRolling consensusTax increases & regulationMore early years workers and higher quality
A secure attachmentReceive sensitive careEmpathy and loveGet security
A Model of Sorts!Model to Reduce Prevalence and Harm from Alcohol
and Drug Abuse
Conclusion
Social- economic urgency
Tackle harm and prevalence
Early years = Protective
It works
