National Assembly for Wales / Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru
Health and Social Care Committee / Y Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol

Inquiry into alcohol and substance misuse / Ymchwiliad i gamddefnyddio alcohol a sylweddau

Evidence from CRI – ASM(Q) 08 / Tystiolaeth gan CRI – ASM(Q) 08

Inquiry into alcohol and substance misuse

Survey Consultation Response

Organisation/Respondent: Emma El-Faitori, Youth Offending Service / CRI

Questionnaire

01. Which client group(s) do you work with? (For example, under 18s, older persons, homeless, or female only)

18 and under.

02. What are the main reasons why your clients take drugs or drink excessively?  Please tick all that apply.

If you work with more than one client group or you feel that there are other reasons as to why your clients take drugs or drink excessively, please comment in the box below.

§ Peer pressure;

§ A way to deal with stress;

§ Boost confidence;

§ Environmental factors (for example – excessive drinking and/or drugs normalised in the home/community)

§ Relationship problems;

§ Self-medication;

Comments

Offending behaviours and learnt behaviours.

03. Are there certain groups of people who are more likely to be affected by drugs and excessive drinking? If so, which groups might they be?

Anyone could be affected by it. Often in poverty/areas deemed to be disadvantaged, certainly poverty and without positive activities/communities and role models. Boredom and peer pressure.

04. Does a particular stage of your clients’ lives influence their likelihood of taking drugs or drinking excessively? If so, what stage might that be? (i.e. age, relationship breakdown, unemployment etc.)

There is always a stage, every individual will be different, different age, different reason, depending how strong they may or not be, how influenced they may or not be and how much they care.

05. What barriers exist for your client(s) when trying to access support and services?

§ Lack of support – knowledge;

§ Lack of communication;

§ Lack of accommodation;

§ Lack of trust and confidence.

06. What barriers exist for services when trying to access support for client(s)?

The way the system works for some and not for others - lack of accommodation is huge.

07. What do you consider to be barriers for staff and frontline services in working with your client group(s), or substance misuse generally?

§ Lack of young people’s rehabs;

§ Lack of funding;

§ Lack of alternative medications and therapies;

§ Long term use as no alternative support in till they are 18;

§ Lack of residential;

§ Lack of jobs;

§ Lack of training opportunities/apprenticeships;

§ Lack of self-worth/confidence in own ability;

§ Amount of money and lifestyle that comes with selling or dealing drugs, it is made out to be good lifestyle, respected etc. More awareness on consequences and direct affect.

08. Where do you think efforts should be targeted to address the issue of alcohol and substance misuse in Wales?

§ In schools Education speakers etc. for parents/guardians and young people;

§ Youth centres;

§ Rehab centres for youth;

§ Boredom, free activities, workshops etc. - ask the young people!

09. In which local authority area do you work? If you work outside of Wales, please write your local authority area below.

Cardiff

Contact Details

Emma El-Faitori

Youth Offending Services / CRI

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