Alcohol treatment for young people in England is more than twice as likely to fail for those not in employment, education or training (NEET), according to researchers at the University of Manchester.
The study is the first to compare alcohol treatment outcomes for all young people aged 11-17 in England. There were more than 16,000 under-17s in drug and alcohol treatment in the year to March 2024 according to the most recent figures, 13 per cent up on the previous year but almost 35 per cent lower than 2008-09’s peak figure of 24,494.
Researchers analysed NDTMS data for more than 2,600 young people in treatment between 2018 and 2023, and compared statistics for marginalised groups including those who were NEET, registered with social services, or experiencing sexual exploitation or homelessness. Almost 26 per cent of NEETs and 18 per cent of those with a child protection plan – indicating risk of significant harm through abuse or neglect – did not complete their treatment, the researchers found.
The study, which is published in the journal Alcohol and Alcoholism, also found that substance use or mental health problems among family members reduced the chance of young people stopping drinking by the end of their treatment, while older adolescents were also at greater risk of dropping out. The results suggest that treatment outcomes ‘vary significantly based on socioeconomic disadvantage and early life adversity’ the researchers state.
‘Understanding which people struggle with treatment is crucial, as it could help services provide more tailored support for those at higher risk,’ said lead author Dr Mica Komarnyckyj. ‘Many challenges that put adolescents at risk of being NEET – such as lack of parental support, economic inequalities or emotional difficulties – may be the same barriers that make it harder for them to complete treatment. Young people with child protection plans also had greater risk of dropping out of treatment. Many have experienced neglect or abuse, and some use alcohol to cope with trauma.’ This meant that embedding trauma-informed approaches in services was essential, she stressed.
A recent Europe-wide study found that while rates of drinking, smoking and cannabis use among young people were now falling across the continent, the rising rates of vaping, online gambling and non-medical use of pharmaceutical drugs pointed to a generation that was in ‘profound transition’.
Associations between childhood risk factors and alcohol treatment outcomes in adolescence is published in the journal Alcohol and Alcoholism https://academic.oup.com/alcalc