One Problem Among Many

📖 The Scoop

This study examined the way in which care leavers' drug use developed during the process of their leaving state care to live independently. Care leavers face the challenge of setting up and managing a home, getting a job, coping financially and developing a support network at a very young age. The Children (leaving care) Act 2000 placed a new responsibility on social services to assist care leavers in this transition to independent living, beyond the age of 16. For a variety of reasons - adverse childhood experiences, a high incidence of psychological and behavioural problems and feelings of loss and fragmentation following time in care - young care leavers are considered particularly vulnerable to having or developing drug problems. Where drug use may have become established while living in state care, risky patterns of drug use may develop as a young person moves towards independence. To date, little research has focused on care leavers and their drug use. This study begins to fill this gap and proposes some areas where drugs services for young care leavers could be improved.

Genre: No Category (fancy, right?)