Protecting young people in

the UK from designer

drugs: an NGO perspective

Emilio Torrini

Researcher, Mentor

Who we are, our mission and what we do

Our holistic, life-course, systemic approach to

prevention and education

Importance of protective factors in supporting young

people

NPS in the UK: 2016 Psychoactive Substances Act

What can an NGO do to protect children and young

people?

Agenda

Mentor is the UK’s authoritative voice in

protecting young people from the harms of

drug and alcohol misuse

Research Programmes Policy

Who we are

Our mission

To promote the health and well being of

children and young people and to prevent

alcohol and drug misuse

Our approach

A holistic, life-course approach to prevention

building resilience, life skills and self-efficacy

implemented

in a variety

of settings

throughout

a young

person’s

lifetime

Protective factors and systemic

settings

Environment

Family

School

Community

What we do

Reach and impact

Source: Mentor International Annual Review 2014

NPS in the UK

more than 500 new 'legal

highs' have been banned in

Britain

5%

of young Europeans

(aged 15–24) have used

NPS at some time

10%

of young people

(aged 15-24)

have used NPS

in Britain

670,000

67

1%

The largest market for

NPS in the EU is the UK

deaths in 2014 – but

recording inconsistent

Only 1% of treatment population

list NPS as main substance

500

Psychoactive Substances Act

What changes from 1st April 2016?

offence to produce, supply, offer to supply, possess with intent to supply, import or export substances intended for human consumption that is capable of producing a psychoactive effect

powers to stop and search persons, enter and search premises in accordance with a warrant, and to seize and destroy psychoactive substances

exceptions include: legitimate substances (food, alcohol, tobacco, nicotine, caffeine and medical products) and controlled drugs

Psychoactive Substances Act

New perspectives?

Legal or illegal – risks remain very high

Dispel the myth that NPS are not harmful

Protect young people from exposure to legal highs

Clarify the ambiguity and confusion about the

terminology

What can an NGO do to protect

children and young people?

Create a connected

ecosystem

Influence public

policies Build long-lasting

life skills and

resilience

Building long-lasting life skills and resilience

Life skills based education (universal prevention)

Alcohol and drug education

based on the development of links

between knowledge values and

life skills

Focus on life skills education,

rather than substance specific

effects

Teachers should not deliver

individual sessions on NPS

Forms of intervention

Selective prevention To address the needs of young

people who are perceived to be

vulnerable

Indicated prevention Used for young people who are

showing early signs of substance

use and/or problematic behaviours

associated with substance use

A connected ecosystem

COMMUNITY

YOUNG

PERSON

FAMILY

SCHOOL

Carers

Parents

Teacher & staff

training

Healthy

Schools

Extracurricular

activities

Leadership

Resilience

education

Life-skills

education

PSHE

Faith-based

organisations

School

policy Healthcare

services

(incl. mental

health)

Emergency

services

External

service

providers

Research and

resource centres Local Education

Authorities

Media and

advertising Youth /

community

groups

Child

protection

services

Rehabilitation

services

Prisons

Charities

Government

National

policy

Data

collection Legal services

Carers’ support

services

International

policy

NGOs

Businesses

Work

experience PRUs

Peers

Role of NGO in influencing

public policies

Help the Home Office develop the new

NPS bill communications strategy

Be part of the Advisory Council on the

Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) panel

Extend into other

government’s policy areas,

e.g. ex-offenders or youth

criminal justice

Produce resources and briefing papers to

inform teachers, practitioners and the

broader community (NPS, Life skills

education, Early intervention, Building

resilience and character in young people)

mentoruk.org.uk @Mentortweets Mentor UK

Contact Details:

emilio.torrini@mentoruk.org

Tel: + 44 (0)20 7553 9920