20 Years on....

Delivering innovation and developing practice to deal with

alcohol and drug issues in Northern Ireland

opportunity youth_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

OY is the leading provider

of support services to

young people,

adult offenders

and their families

in Northern Ireland

opportunity youth_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

OY deliver services in 3 main areas:

Health Youth Justice Employability

opportunity youth_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

OY worked with almost 20,000 people last year& approximatley 129,000 over the last 20 years

Primary provider of alcohol & drug services to young people - AD:EPT, CHILL, DAISY East,

DAISY West & Targeted Education

Largest provider of alcohol & drug services to adults – AD:EPT & Community Support

The beginning...1993

Opportunity Youth working holistically to motivate change

Alcohol & Drugs always a focus

UUJ School of Education - 3 Year study(McAleavey, G. & McCrystal, P., 1996)

Total sample 498 16-17 year olds

Alcohol

Pre-OY intervention - 94% reported they drank alcohol to excessive levels

Post-OY Intervention – 30% claimed they had reduced consumption while 24% indicated a strong wish to do so

Alcohol & Drugs always a focus

UUJ School of Education - 3 Year study(McAleavey, G. & McCrystal, P., 1996)

Total sample 498 16-17 year olds

Drugs

Pre-OY intervention - 83% reported they used drugs

Post-OY Intervention – 36% claimed to have stopped

1998OY recognised the necessity to review practice and add value

1st Voluntary Sector organisation to accredit learning and offer a formal qualification for drug & alcohol awareness through OCN

To date 13,250 learners registered for accreditation while 11,042 learners completed – all accreditations have had a drug & alcohol component

1999OY commences drug & alcohol service delivery in Hydebank YOC

1st Voluntary Sector organisation to provide this service within the prison estate

QUB – Dept of Criminology (O’Mahony, D. 2003)• Use of drugs within the centre decreases by 19%• Access and availability of support and advice

increases by 25%• Increase in information on drugs and adverse effects

by 17%

1999

Vital Voices – Hillary Clinton Initiative

Lift practice seen in Chicago -

Therapeutic Mentoring

1st Voluntary Sector organisation to

deliver mentoring in this way

2001OY offered the opportunity to deliver therapeutic mentoring as an intervention to engage and motivate young people to change behaviour in relation to their drug & alcohol use

1st adolescent drug & alcohol treatment service in Northern Ireland is piloted

CHILL...

CHILL Evaluation (Courtney, R. 2004)

The client survey provided considerable evidence that major improvements were brought about by the CHILL service.

Of particular significance are the following:

• 100% Decrease in the number who missed 7 or more days at school or work due to substance abuse in the previous 4 weeks

• 100% Decrease in weekly spending on solvents• 99% Decrease in the number of times clients overdid it on

drugs• 95% Decrease in the number engaging in vandalism• 94% Decrease in the number joy-riding• 90% Decrease in dangerous activities• 87% Decrease in number of days per week inhaling solvents

• 85% Decrease in amount of money spent on alcohol each week

• 77% Decrease in the number engaging in theft• 76% Decrease in the number of days clients take

drugs per week• 76% Decrease in the number of clients in trouble at

school/work due to alcohol/drugs/solvents• 75% Decrease in the number having unprotected sex• 73% Decrease in the number who described their

health as poor or very poor• 72% Decrease in the number of days clients overdid

it on alcohol

• 65% Decrease in being a victim of violence when taking alcohol/drugs/solvents

• 60% Decrease in level of violence when taking alcohol/drugs/solvents

• 59% Decrease in risk-taking in past 4 weeks• 58% Decrease in anger/aggression when taking

alcohol/drugs/solvents• 58% Decrease in the number of days clients overdid it on

solvents in past 4 weeks• 56% Increase in the number who had not felt low or

depressed in past 4 weeks• 55% Decrease in number of clients with high or very high

anxiety in past 4 weeks• 49% Increase in good confidence/self-esteem

The impact of Mentoring as an intervention is highlighted as statistically significant in 3 important areas: Reducing the frequency of young people overdoing it on alcohol

Reducing the number of days that young people take drugs

Reducing the money that young people spend on alcohol

2003OY commence the delivery of the 1st alcohol and drugs throughcare service for young offenders in NI

QUB – Dept Criminology (O’Mahony, D. & Chapman, T., 2005)Sample: 138 young people aged 18-21years 2% of participants claimed to have given up drinking

alcohol post-release. Over two fifths of participants (44%) had reduced the

amount of alcohol they consumed Only 15% of participants said they were drinking more Over one third of participants (38%, compared with 67%

of pre-release participants) often went on drinking binges One third of participants (33%) said their key worker had

helped them reduce their alcohol consumption

2006

Procurement of drug and alcohol services commences...

CHILL expands from Belfast & South Eastern Trust areas to Western Trust area

2008

Procurement of drug and alcohol services develops...

Opportunity Youth with partners develop the 1st multi-component intervention treatment service for young people offering mentoring, counselling, family support, systemic family therapy and therapeutic groupwork

DAISY....

DAISY Highlights:

98% reported positive changes in their lives

86% demonstrated a reduction in alcohol use

79% demonstrated a reduction in drug use

98% reported an overall positive change in their family

2009SETrust become responsible for Healthcare in Prisons and procure drug & alcohol treatment services

OY develop the 1st multi-component intervention treatment service for young people and adults in prison offering core harm reduction, brief interventions, mentoring, counselling, therapeutic groupwork, pre release and family support.

AD:EPT...

AD:EPT Highlights:

95% reported a positive change in their lives

80% reported a reduction in their drug use

97% stated they would recommend AD:EPT to others in a similar position

61% stated that they would change their alcohol alcohol behaviours on release

2012

Opportunity Youth successfully apply to BIG’s Impact of Alcohol Fund

OY develop the 1st shared care dual diagnosis model of service delivery for young people in Northern Ireland

CAMHS/DAAMHS support the work of DAISY in the Belfast Trust area

‘Change is the law of life and those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.’

John F. Kennedy

The Future...Keen to continue to lead and develop innovative practice based on continuous learning

Recently tendered for One Stop Shop initiative – awaiting outcome

Completed 2nd stage application to BIG’s Impact of Alcohol regional awards – awaiting outcome

Continuing to offer holistic services to all – which will ALWAYS include an alcohol & drug input