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

Early Interventions for Children and Young People Working Group – Chair’s Statement

I am honoured to have chaired the Early Interventions Working Group, and I extend my sincere thanks to all those who contributed, representing a diverse range of backgrounds. I also wish to express my appreciation to my colleagues in the Scottish Government for their unwavering patience and support throughout this endeavour.

Drug and alcohol use among children and young people in Scotland is alarmingly prevalent. Its impact is starkly evident in shattered lives and tragically premature deaths. The repercussions of substance use manifest in various ways, including school exclusions, hospital admissions, involvement in crime, referrals to social work, and engagement with the children’s reporter.

I speak from personal experience, as my own son encountered these challenges. During that difficult period, I discovered first-hand the often-fragmented nature of our support systems. While he received exceptional care from dedicated professionals, we also encountered indifference and stigma. It has since become apparent that he likely struggled with undiagnosed Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, leading him to self-medicate and battle to regain control of his emotions and thoughts. Sadly, he passed away in 2023.

There is evidence of wide geographic variation in provision of treatment and recovery services for younger people. While pockets of excellence do exist, there remain many areas where support is limited. Even within regions boasting commendable services, communication breakdowns and convoluted pathways remain commonly reported obstacles.

The primary objective of our working group was to substantiate these anecdotes with empirical evidence. To achieve this, we undertook the following measures:

• Data gathering from various sources and disciplines across the country to determine the scope of problematic substance use amongst young people
• Informal engagement with ADPs to gather examples of support that already exists for young people
• Informal engagement with services to gather examples of good practice

Our exploration extended to examining existing Standards to establish benchmarks and delineate a blueprint for exemplary practice. We solicited input from a wide array of stakeholders to ensure a comprehensive and inclusive approach.

Within this document we outline our methodology, present our findings, and propose recommendations aimed at improving early intervention strategies and enhancing support systems for children and young people grappling with substance use issues in Scotland.

Andrew Horne, Chair of the Early Interventions for Children and Young People Working Group