Developing an understanding of the levels of alcohol misuse amongst young people in the youth

justice system

Dorothy Newbury-Birch, Katherine Jackson, Eilish Gilvarry,

Paul Cassidy, Eileen Kaner, Tony Hodgson

• Although the proportion of young people aged between 11-15 who have drank alcohol has decreased, the amount consumed by young people who drink increased from 6.4 units per week in 1994 to 12.7 units per week in 2007

– The largest increase being seen in 14 year olds who increased their alcohol consumption from 6.1 to 9.9 units per week over this time period.

– This increase was seen in both boys and girls [Fuller, 1994]

• Drinking among young people under the age of 18, especially frequent drinking, is associated with criminal and disorderly behaviour [Department of Health, 2007; Richardson, 2003]

• Alcohol use is higher amongst young people who come into contact with criminal justice services [Kurtz, 1998; Stallard, 2003]

• Younger people who drink are more likely to be both perpetrators and victims of violence [Newburn, 2001]

• Nearly half of all 10–17 year-olds who drink once a week or more admitted to some sort of criminal activity

– Around two-fifths reported getting into an argument and about a fifth stated they had got into a fight during or after drinking [Dept. Health, 2007]

• Of the offences reported by young people under the age of 18, 37% were committed by those who drank once a week or more [Dept Health, 2007]

Background

In press

Where did this present piece of

research come from?

Alcohol prevalence – Adult sample

• In the probation setting 69% of men and 53% of women were classed as having an AUD

• In the prison setting 59% of men and 63% of women were classed as having an AUD

• This is compared to 38% of men and 16% of women in the general population (ANARP 2004)

Alcohol prevalence – Adult sample

• In the probation setting 35% of men and 25% of women were classed as ‘possibly dependant’

• In the prison setting 36% of men and 42% of women were classed as ‘possibly dependant’

• This is compared to 6% of men and 2% of women in the general population (ANARP 2004)

However… when comparing AUDIT scores to OASYs alcohol scores in the adult sample

Audit Range % missed using OASys

Abstainers -5%Low Risk -12%Hazardous Risk 73%Harmful Risk 46%Possibly Dependence 14%

Alcohol prevalence study of young people in Tyne and Wear was commissioned by the

YJB using same methodology as the NOMs Adult Prevalence study

So…….. What about the Youth Population within the CJS?

• South Tees YOS

• Newcastle YOS• Gateshead YOS

• Hassockfield Secure Training Centre

• Castington Young Offenders Institution

Who?

• Questionnaires completed (n=429)

– 240 YOS’

– 14 Hassockfield Secure Training Centre

– 175 Castington YOI

Results

In the total sample 65% were classified as having an AUD

Conclusions

• The correct assessment must be carried out using the correct tool

• To date although the AUDIT tool is the best at doing that, more work is needed to assess the right levels for use with this group of individuals

• This present piece of work does show is that

there are a very high number of young people needing some interventional work related to alcohol