The Hertfordshire Young People’s Substance Misuse and Crime Reduction Services team has published some invaluable guidance: Targeted Drug Education for Parents and Carers.

The team strongly recommends that family interventions should have a ‘broad-spectrum’ approach to drug and alcohol prevention. It also recommends that the focus of the support being provided should focus on developing generic life skills – such as building self-esteem and improving communication skills – rather than concentrating solely on child and adolescent alcohol and other drug use.

The guidance provides information on engaging with parents and carers, content for programmes and a section on the importance of evaluation. It also states that parents and carers may require ongoing guidance and support to enable them to negotiate difficult boundaries with their children – or indeed to renegotiate those boundaries as their children grow up and mature.

Local support available
Parenting and family support is available locally across Hertfordshire so whether you want to attend a short course of just need some friendly advice there is help at hand.

For more information visit: www.hertsdirect.org/comdirectory/fis
or
call the Family Information Service on 01438 737502 or 01923 471502.

Other useful help and support

Adfam is a national organisation working with families affected by drugs and alcohol and is a leading agency in substance related family work. It provides a range of publications and resources for families. Web: www.adfam.org.uk

Family Lives services offers support for anyone parenting a child, 24 hours a day. Web: www.familylives.org.uk

Parental Drug Awareness Service (01707 393 394) is a free confidential service offering information, support and advice to parents and carers who may be concerned about their children and drug, alcohol and solvent use of misuse.