Task 3

Research

Young addiction is a volunteered company that looks into alcohol and drug addiction in Oxfordshire. Their aim is to erase and help out with someone personal battle with addiction. The Specialist Community Addictions Service (SCAS) is a community based drug and alcohol team providing support in partnership with many other services which help people with addictive behaviours.

The team is made up of social workers, nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists, counsellors, specialist GPs and support workers. Services include:

assessment care management residential rehabilitation detoxification family support Advice, counselling and therapy with relapse

prevention.

Shared care

The Oxfordshire Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT) - part of a national strategy on drug abuse -together with the five Oxfordshire Primary Care Trusts run a shared care scheme for the treatment of drug users.

GPs, social workers and pharmacists work together to prescribe and supervise substitute medication.

There are three shared care schemes in Oxfordshire (north, city and south), each of which is supported by a specialist GP who provides clinic-based care.

Facts

Drug and alcohol abuse statistics in relation to road deaths.

Just over a third of deaths on UK roads are now young people aged 25 or under, so this is without doubt a serious problem. This equates to the death or serious injury of a young motorist or passenger every hour on average across the United Kingdom.

Teenage drug and alcohol use statistics. Other notable recent statistics include the number of younger teenagers using drink or drugs. Last year one in seven people admitted to Accident and Emergency departments across the UK for alcohol related health issues were under 14 years old - a total of over 2239 cases.

Many have blamed a surge in advertising for alcohol between 3pm and 5pm, which corresponds to when children have come home from school. Of course, the government spend approximately £3.7 million annually on anti-drinking and alcohol awareness campaigns, but this is dwarfed by the estimated £200 million annual spend on advertising by the alcoholic drinks industry.

Drug and alcohol abuse in teens is becoming more of a problem each year as our culture changes. A key statistic is that the average starting age of Heroin use in many towns and cities in the UK is just 15 years of age - so we have an obvious duty to prevent young people from getting inadvertently caught up in addiction through misguided experimentation.

There has been a decline in drug use by 11 to 15 year old pupils since 2001. In 2011, 17% ofPupils had ever taken drugs, compared with 29% in 2001. There were similar falls in theProportions of pupils who reported taking drugs in the last year and the last month. TheDecline in the prevalence of drug use parallels the fall in the proportions of pupils who have

Ever been offered drugs, from 42% in 2001 to 29% in 2011.

Research given from: http://rehab-international.org/drug-addiction/drug-addiction-statistics

Each year, more and more people become addicted to a substance. Drug addiction is seemingly always on the rise. Some addicts will seek treatment for their addiction, but many will continue to abuse the drug, often adding other drugs to their existing addiction. Treating a drug addiction is possible, but this can only happen when the person who is addicted wants the help to change their life. This never happens soon enough. Most people have their drug addiction for many years before they ever admit there is a problem. By this time, so much damage has been done.Drug addiction statistics reveal that there are increased numbers in the amount of people who are addicted to a drug. These statistics also show how many of these individuals seek help and how many are successful at completing their drug treatment programs. There are many options available to an addict who wants help. Drug addictions come with many risks, including health, social and psychological. Treatment is the only effective way to stop an addiction and allow the addict to regain control over their life.

Statistics and Facts on Drug Addictions

Addiction is actually a disease that has a severe impact on the brain. It is much more complex that just thinking of a drug addiction as a behavioral problem. This disease causes the addict to crave more and more of a drug. They become captivated by the effects and the structure of the brain begins to change. When a person stops using the drug, the changes that have happened in the brain will not just go away. This is why treatment is necessary. Even if the addict is able to cease drug use, they cannot fix the damage that has been done in regards to their health.Currently, drug addiction in the United States is higher than it has ever been in the past. In 2004, 699 addicts died as a result of an overdose. This number increased from 223 in 1992. Many people believe that most drug addicts are young adults. This is not the case at all. In fact, between 2001 and 1005, the number of people between the ages of 50 and 59 who were using an illegal drug rose from 2.5 percent to 4.7 percent. This is a huge jump in numbers, revealing that older people also have severe drug addictions.

A drug addiction does not just affect the person who is addicted. It can do a lot of damage to the family structure as well. It has been reported that more than 6 million children in the country are living with a parent who is addicted to a drug. These children suffer the consequences.

What are the Most Common Drug Addictions?

Currently, the most common drug addictions in the United States are:

Marijuana addiction Heroin addiction Vicodin addiction OxyContin addiction Cocaine addiction Ecstasy addiction

Drug Addiction on the Rise Each year, the cost of drug abuse and addiction for employers reaches over

$122 billion in lost time and an additional $15 billion in the cost of health insurance. More and more younger children are becoming addicted to a drug. In some cases, they learn this behavior from a parent. The most commonly abused drug by those over the age of 12 is marijuana. This is then followed by prescription drugs and cocaine.

The numbers of drug addiction is on the rise; however, the numbers of those who seek treatment are not. Less than 15% of drug addicts will ever receive treatment for their addiction. While they continue to use the drug, they not only do harm to their own health, but they are also affecting the lives of others.

What Can Be Done?

Awareness is one of the key things that can help prevent drug addiction. It is important for young children and teens to know what the risks and consequences are. The more they learn, the less apt they will be to even try an illegal drug. Many drug addictions in the younger population start because of issues in the home. This is where the problem must be addressed. Parents need to be involved and aware of what their kids are doing, who they hang out with and where they go. If there are any warning signs that could indicate drug use, parents should take immediate action.

Of course, those children who are living with an addict will have a harder time avoiding an addiction. This is the life they know. This situation will most likely require some type of intervention from a therapist or counselor. It is possible to stop the increasing numbers by using awareness and learning as tools to help prevent more young adults from becoming a drug addict.

(2007) (2012)

A detailed account of the issue the social action project is trying to erase (look at stats and facts on the issue within the area)

‘Young addicts’ in south Oxfordshire aim to raise awareness to others who are troubled with addiction behaviours. It provides a confidential programme for youngsters giving them advice support and treatment. As well as helping youngsters with drug and alcohol problems they also help young people who are affected by others alcohol and drug problems. They have a sister site for adults with similar problems giving them details for addiction problems and support services in Oxfordshire

Background on the Social project itself - Why it was set up; who set it up and funding

The ‘Young addicts’ company in Oxford was set up through volunteered staff. This helped their local community as it allowed them to go for help and advice whenever they needed it. It was set up by locals who lived in Oxford and recognized that young addiction was a big issue especially in south Oxfordshire. Through my research I have found out that ‘young addicts’ was set up to benefit people with addiction problems. The Young addiction website was one of the first helpful websites put out there for young addiction.

What effects has the project had on the community?

The Project ‘young addicts’ has helped the community as it has allowed people with addiction problems to confess and gain advice from professional specialists.

How has it helped certain individuals?

It has helped certain individuals gain confidence and get on with their lives. It also has helped individuals get a job. People who are clean can help stress to people who are suffering from addiction stop by understanding what it is like to go through and how you can help prevent it in the further future.

Does it already have an action video to help its cause?

There is not an action video to its name as of yet.