mdx professors lead massive eu drug use research project
MDX Professors lead massive EU drug use research project
19/02/2020
The MDX Drug and Alcohol Research Centre will share their findings and advice on best practice with health, prison and social workers across Europe.
A massive European research project organised by Professor Betsy Thom and Professor Karen Duke at Middlesex University has made a number of recommendations on how to help young people who have been in contact with the criminal justice system and have used drugs.
The research will be presented at a two-day final conference at Middlesex University on Thursday and Friday which features a packed programme of academic and professional speakers.
The project - called Exchanging Prevention practices on Polydrug use among youth in Criminal justice systems (EPPIC) – was funded through a €599,511.79 grant from the Health Programme of the European Union.
Polydrug’ use means the use of more than one drug by an individual.
In the UK, MDX academics, working with the national health and social care charity -Change Grow Live (CGL), the Health Opportunities Team and Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, interviewed young people and practitioners along with staging a series of focus groups and workshops.
Research focused on interviewing and looking at the experiences of 198 young people aged between 15-24 who use drugs and have been in contact with the criminal justice system in the UK, Italy, Denmark, Poland, Germany and Austria.
The key findings from the EPPIC project were:
- Most young people who are drug experienced and in touch with the criminal justice system have a range of complex problems, including mental health issues and social difficulties (home, school). This means that in order to prevent/reduce drug use, the other problems must be addressed.
- For this target group, most of whom already use drugs, prevention must be understood in broad terms to include early intervention to prevent increase of use or progression to more harmful use, harm reduction approaches to address associated problems, and therapeutic approaches for those with more severe drug use.
- The criminal justice context poses constraints on services for these young people and barriers to what practitioners working with them can offer. In particular, the abstinence approach, often required within criminal justice, may limit the offer of harm reduction measures.
- Young people are likely to experience stigmatisation due to the illegal status of drugs and the criminalisation of drug users. This will make it more difficult for them to find positive social roles and ‘new’ positive self-identities.
- There is a need to ensure good health and social support for young people leaving the criminal justice system. This should include practical assistance with everyday living as well as assistance with drug use and associated problems. Change, Grow, Live (CGL) is a voluntary sector organisation specialising in substance use and criminal justice intervention projects in England and Wales.
Raj Ubhi, Head of Operations for Children & Young People's Service at CGL, welcomed this research.
“Many young people face the type of disadvantage and adversity that sees them involved with drugs, alcohol and offending…there is strong evidence to suggest that preventative strategies can make a real difference to those engaging in risk taking behaviours."
Raj is optimistic that the research will ‘support critical thinking across the sector on how we can best empower our young people to reach their full potential.’
MDX Professors lead massive EU drug use research project
A massive European research project organised by Professor Betsy Thom and Professor Karen Duke at Middlesex University has made a number of recommendations on how to help young people who have been in contact with the criminal justice system and have used drugs.
The research will be presented at a two-day final conference at Middlesex University on Thursday and Friday which features a packed programme of academic and professional speakers.
The project - called Exchanging Prevention practices on Polydrug use among youth in Criminal justice systems (EPPIC) – was funded through a €599,511.79 grant from the Health Programme of the European Union.
Polydrug’ use means the use of more than one drug by an individual.
In the UK, MDX academics, working with the national health and social care charity -Change Grow Live (CGL), the Health Opportunities Team and Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, interviewed young people and practitioners along with staging a series of focus groups and workshops.
Research focused on interviewing and looking at the experiences of 198 young people aged between 15-24 who use drugs and have been in contact with the criminal justice system in the UK, Italy, Denmark, Poland, Germany and Austria.
The key findings from the EPPIC project were:
- Most young people who are drug experienced and in touch with the criminal justice system have a range of complex problems, including mental health issues and social difficulties (home, school). This means that in order to prevent/reduce drug use, the other problems must be addressed.
- For this target group, most of whom already use drugs, prevention must be understood in broad terms to include early intervention to prevent increase of use or progression to more harmful use, harm reduction approaches to address associated problems, and therapeutic approaches for those with more severe drug use.
- The criminal justice context poses constraints on services for these young people and barriers to what practitioners working with them can offer. In particular, the abstinence approach, often required within criminal justice, may limit the offer of harm reduction measures.
- Young people are likely to experience stigmatisation due to the illegal status of drugs and the criminalisation of drug users. This will make it more difficult for them to find positive social roles and ‘new’ positive self-identities.
- There is a need to ensure good health and social support for young people leaving the criminal justice system. This should include practical assistance with everyday living as well as assistance with drug use and associated problems. Change, Grow, Live (CGL) is a voluntary sector organisation specialising in substance use and criminal justice intervention projects in England and Wales.
Raj Ubhi, Head of Operations for Children & Young People's Service at CGL, welcomed this research.
Raj is optimistic that the research will ‘support critical thinking across the sector on how we can best empower our young people to reach their full potential.’
For more information about the EPPIC project, visit www.eppic-project.eu and follow us on twitter: @EPPIC_Project
Find out more about the Middlesex University Drug and Alcohol Research Centre
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