UK Publishes ACMD Report On Youths, Drugs, Alcohol And Tobacco Abuse
An assessment of the government’s progress in addressing the hazardous use of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs by young people in the UK is being published by The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) today.
Pathways to Problems 2009 considers the implementation of recommendations made in the ACMD’s original Pathways to Problems report published in 2006.
The ACMD finds that government departments have worked together to engage with the issue and has made significant progress against many key recommendations, such as the control of tobacco and recognition of the roles of parents and schools.
There is, however, further work to be done, chiefly around young people’s exposure to alcohol.
Caroline Healy, Chair of the Pathways to Problems Working Group, said:
“The government has made encouraging progress on the hazardous use of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs by young people since Pathways to Problems 2006.
“We’re pleased with the way departments are working together to develop policies and initiatives focussing on the health and wellbeing of young people. The work being done to control tobacco and roll-out public information campaigns is particularly commendable, as is the recognition being given to the important role played by parents and educational institutions in tackling substance misuse by young people.
“Despite this progress, however, statistics show that many young people are still putting themselves at risk and there is room for improvement against many of the recommendations. The increase in the reporting of alcohol-related illness, injury and crime means our main concern remains young people’s interaction with alcohol, particularly around its promotion and availability.”
The ACMD commends the advances made by government in:
Working in a more joined-up way to develop policies, with the formulation of cross-department, integrated strategies and the creation of the Department for Children Schools and Families to lead the way in tackling the hazardous use of substances by young people;
Tightening tobacco control through measures such as restricting the sale of products to those aged 18 years and over and strengthening the sanctions available against retailers who sell to those below this age;
Communicating the health risks of alcohol and other substances via information campaigns such as the Know Your Limits and FRANK campaigns; and
Acknowledging the important role played by parents and schools in young people’s misuse of substances through, for example, the Think Family approach developed by the Cabinet Office and the Healthy Targeted Mental Health in Schools programme.
The ACMD remains concerned, however, about the exposure to and use of alcohol by young people. Whilst some progress has been made – for example the commitments announced in the Budget to increase alcohol duty by two per cent above inflation and to increase cider duty rates 10 per cent above inflation – the report finds there is clearly still work to be done in this crucial area as the reporting of alcohol-related illness, injury and crime continues to increase.
In particular, the ACMD calls for further action on the following:
Minimum-price legislation to stop supermarkets selling alcohol at heavily discounted prices, as previously recommended by Chief Medical Officer for England Sir Liam Donaldson;
Implementation of the Licensing Act Review to change the offence of persistently selling alcohol to a person under the age of 18 years from three to two ’strikes’, as referenced in the government’s Youth Alcohol Action Plan;
Reduction of the blood alcohol concentration level for drivers under the age of 25 years to 50mg per 100ml or less, as supported by the Transport Select Committee and Sir Liam Donaldson;
More proactive intervention by the government in limiting the promotion of excessive drinking at further education establishments, with consideration given to encouragement of universities to withdraw financial support from sports and other clubs that promote irresponsible drinking;
The use of standard measures when alcohol is served and a tax on drinks according to alcoholic strength; and
A stricter code for alcohol advertising and sponsorship as supported by Alcohol Concern and government research.
The ACMD also reiterates its call for an equivalent independent expert body to advise on the misuse of alcohol and tobacco and ensure that the government is receiving the best possible advice in this area. It has committed to meeting with relevant cross government policy heads to establish the nature of the advice available and drafting a paper outlining the possible options for such a body and will share this with government in due course.
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