wrans/answers2025-04-08 conversation_105
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-08 conversation_105

Jessica Toale:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help safeguard young people from drug and alcohol addiction in (a) England and (b) Bournemouth West constituency. \p Ashley Dalton: The most effective and sustainable approach to safeguarding children and young people from harm due to drugs and alcohol is by giving them the best start in life, and by keeping them safe, well, and happy. Our mission-based approach will ensure that every child has the best start in life, and that we create the healthiest generation of children ever.

Statutory guidance on relationships, sex, and health education requires all primary and secondary schools to ensure that pupils know the key facts and risks associated with alcohol and drug use, as well as how to manage influences and pressure, in order to keep themselves healthy and safe. The Department has worked with the Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education Association to develop lesson plans on alcohol and drugs and commissioned an update of the existing resources, which was published at the end of last year.

The Government also has an alcohol and drug information and advice service called Talk to FRANK, which aims to reduce alcohol and drug use and their harms by providing awareness to young people, parents, and concerned others. Further information on Talk to FRANK is available at the following link:

https://www.talktofrank.com/

Children and families affected by parental alcohol and/or drug use can experience adverse health, social, and economic outcomes, which can continue for generations without effective interventions to break the cycle. The Department is continuing to invest in improvements to local alcohol and drug treatment services, to ensure that those in need can access high quality help and support.

Local authorities are responsible for commissioning drug and alcohol treatment and recovery services as part of their public health responsibilities. In addition to the Public Health Grant (PHG), in 2025/26, the Department is providing a total of £310 million in additional targeted grants to improve services and recovery support, which includes housing and employment. Further details are available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/drug-and-alcohol-treatment-and-recovery-funding-2025-to-2026/drug-and-alcohol-treatment-and-recovery-funding-allocations-2025-to-2026

In 2025/26, the Department is providing Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole with £3,023,086 through the Drug and Alcohol Treatment Recovery and Improvement Grant, which is on top of the amount the local authority invests in their drug and alcohol treatment and recovery system through the PHG. It is for the local authority to determine what proportion of that funding it spends on supporting children and young people. In 2023/24, there were 150 children and young people, those under 18 years old, who received support through specialist services in the area. In the year to January 2025, this had risen to 163.