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Understanding how to help
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Understanding how to help

Will services solve the problem?

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It would be nice to think that if a young person is getting help from a service then any drug-related problems would be solved. Seeing services comes with no guarantee that a young person will stop, but they should always be helpful.

Drug and alcohol problems aren’t like clear distinct conditions that can be fixed or treated with one medication or one type of treatment. Instead, there are a range of factors and reasons that can contribute to young people developing drug-related issues and so there are also a range of ways they can be resolved. Sometimes it can take time.

Generally speaking, youth drug and alcohol services will work to:

  • Assist the young person to reduce their reliance on substances to cope.
  • Reduce the harms associated with a young person’s drug use. 
  • Seeing services comes with no guarantee that a young person will stop.

If a young person’s goal is to stop or reduce using drugs, then a service will definitely work with them to achieve this goal. To help a young person achieve goals such as this, a service may encourage support from family and friends as well as helping a young person address other issues such as relationship and housing stability, emotional health and activities that may be having an impact on their drug or alcohol use.

Seeing services comes with no guarantee that a young person will stop.

Get help now

YoDAA is a free and confidential online and phone service that offers supports to young people, families and professionals. You can contact 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday.

Further Reading

Will they grow out of this?

What will not using or reducing my use feel like?

Staying as safe as you can



Help a young person cope with cravings at home

Knowing when alcohol and drug use is a problem

The role of family in preventing drug problems



: Will services solve the problem?

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