Over 400 Gateshead Children Have Received Treatment for Substance Misuse

Local TV

Over 400 young people under the age of 18 have received treatment for substance misuse in Gateshead since 2021. Cannabis, alcohol and nicotine remain the main causes for concern, with services reporting a steady rise in younger teenagers seeking help.

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00:00Figures from Gateshead Council's Young People's Treatment and Recovery Service show 405 children and young people have been referred for substance misuse since 2021.

00:10The number of referrals have stayed consistently high, 120 in 2021, 145 in 2022 and 140 last year.

00:19Most referrals come from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and there's been a noticeable increase in the number of 14 to 15-year-olds needing support,

00:28while numbers among 16 and 17-year-olds have remained relatively stable.

00:33The service run by Change Go Live offers one-to-one support to children and young people,

00:39including those up to 25 with learning difficulties and children affected by their parents' drug or alcohol use.

00:45They also do regular outreach work in schools and last year alone gave advice and guidance to more than 2,300 people, including young people, parents and professionals.

00:55But the service says success doesn't always mean giving up completely.

00:59Many young people continue to use alcohol, nicotine or cannabis occasionally, but treatment is considered successful when they meet personal goals.

01:08Nationally, just under 14,000 under-18s were in treatment for drug alcohol misuse in 2023 to 2024, up from around 12,400 the previous year.

01:18Cannabis remains the most common substance of concern across England.

01:23While Gateshead numbers are smaller than the national picture, they mirror wider trends,

01:28with early teenage use on the rise and services focusing on harm reduction and support.

01:33Gateshead figures show a consistent need for early intervention, especially among younger teens.

01:39And with the national numbers increasing, the challenge for local services is to keep reaching young people early.

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