What are the main criticisms of the UK's youth drug treatment system?

Criticisms include disparities in community care, a lack of state-funded residential facilities for under-18s, and poor collaboration between services.

How many young people are in drug treatment in the UK?

Over half of the 16,000 children in drug and alcohol treatment last year were 15 or younger, with a 13% rise in under-18s seeking support recently.

Why is residential drug treatment for under-18s limited in the UK?

There are no state-run specialist residential facilities for under-18s, and private options are prohibitively expensive for most families.

Home / Health / UK Youth Addiction: Gaps in Care Cost Lives

UK Youth Addiction: Gaps in Care Cost Lives

13 Jan

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Summary

Mothers whose sons died from addiction detail systemic failures in youth drug treatment.
Investigation reveals significant disparities in community care and few residential facilities.
A 13% rise in under-18s seeking drug support contrasts with unmet needs.

UK Youth Addiction: Gaps in Care Cost Lives

Three mothers shared their harrowing experiences of failed drug treatment systems after their teenage sons died. Anita Morris, Nicola Howarth, and Kate Roux detailed how a lack of joined-up care and insufficient residential facilities contributed to their children's deaths. Their stories underscore a critical crisis in youth addiction services.

Analysis reveals significant disparities in community-based care and a stark shortage of state-funded residential facilities for under-18s in the UK. While drug treatment is locally commissioned, a 13% rise in under-18s seeking support in 2024-25 highlights growing demand that current provisions are failing to meet.

Experts and bereaved families are calling for a national strategy with more specialist beds and earlier intervention. While government funding is allocated, the complex needs of young people with addiction, often intertwined with mental health issues, require a coordinated approach involving various services to prevent further tragedies.