Young people accessing support or treatment for alcohol and drugs: standards - November 2025

Ministerial Foreword

Since the establishment of the National Drugs Mission^[1] in 2021 great strides to improve the care and treatment for people who use drugs and alcohol have been made. Through investing in drug and alcohol services, working with the third sector and supporting our workforce, we have demonstrated that change is possible.

When I speak to people in our communities across Scotland, they tell me that substance use amongst young people is of great concern. Although drug-related deaths in people under 25 have reduced in recent years, I often hear from people that they started to experience problems in their youth. If we can intervene and support people earlier; then we can prevent the development of more serious harms and death. These Standards set out how local services can support young people to stay safe, reduce their substance use and recover.

Young people have been at the heart of developing this work from the start, and I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to those who have contributed their thoughts and experiences. Your input will improve the lives of the people who come after you. That is a very powerful thing. I would also like to thank the multi-agency working group for their professional expertise and time in putting together these Standards.

I welcome the Standards set out here to improve collaborative efforts between young people, local partners and the workforce. These Standards will ensure that the support available meets the needs of young people, when required, across Scotland.

The Standards outline what young people should expect when seeking help for drugs or alcohol. The Recommendations offer guidance to Alcohol and Drug Partnerships (ADPs), their local strategic partners and service providers to put in place accessible, person-centred support, that meets the needs of young people. Doing so will lead to better outcomes for Scotland’s young people.

We recognise that many local areas already have in place a range of services and are successfully providing what they need. These Standards will support the vital role of the workforce in providing effective, timely, trauma informed and compassionate service delivery.

We appreciate local areas will have different starting points for delivering these Standards and that the speed of implementation might vary.

The Standards will play a key role in delivering on our wider ambition for every child in Scotland to grow up loved, safe and respected. In meeting these Standards, public authorities will be able to demonstrate how they are respecting, protecting, and fulfilling children’s human rights, and taking a human rights-based approach.

These Standards will be a helpful tool for local partners, enabling them to provide consistent support to young people across Scotland. Together, we can ensure that our young people flourish, safe from the harms of drugs and alcohol.

Maree Todd MSP, Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy and Sport