AQW 32435/22-27
Ms Sian Mulholland
Alliance Party
North Antrim
Tabled Date: 30/09/2025
Answered On Date: 21/10/2025
Priority Written: No
Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail what youth addiction intervention services are available in the Northern Health and Social Care Trust.
Answer:
Within the Northern Trust, youth addiction intervention services are provided by Step 3 CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service) Drugs and Alcohol Mental Health Team. The team provides assessment and targeted therapeutic intervention for children and young people who present with significant substance misuse problems. Alongside this, the team offers support and consultation to practitioners both internal to CAMHS and externally within the communities as a form of outreach. This team aims to provide high quality, evidence-based assessment, support and intervention by working collaboratively with the young person, their family/carers. One of the key aims of the team is to provide a safe, equitable and accessible service for children and young people, and their families, most in need of the drug and alcohol mental health support. Referrals to Drugs and Alcohol Mental Health Team (CAMHS, Step 3) can be made by any healthcare, social work or education professional or voluntary/community agencies through the Children’s Referral Service (CRS). The Public Health Agency also highlighted a number of services available in NHSCT as follows: Community Based Services for Young People who are identified as having Substance Misuse difficulties This service provides Step 2 treatment services including psychotherapeutic interventions (structured talking therapies e.g. cognitive behavioural therapy, motivational interventions, structured counselling) for children and young people, aged 11-25 years including structured family support. Therapeutic Services for Children, Young People and Families Affected by Parental Substance Misuse This service provides therapeutic interventions and support to children affected by parental substance misuse as part of a multi-agency care plan through working directly with the young people and indirectly with non-substance misusing parents/carers Targeted Prevention services for Young People This service develops and delivers age appropriate drug & alcohol life skills/harm reduction programmes for young people in the age ranges of 11-13 years, 14-15 years and 16+ years across Northern Ireland. Youth Engagement Services Eight Youth Engagement services for young people aged 11 – 25 years are available across Northern Ireland. The service provides up to date objective information about personal health and wellbeing issues (including drugs and alcohol), choices, where to find help / advice and support to access services when they are needed. There are two Youth Engagement Services in the Northern HSC Trust area in Ballymena and Carrickfergus. Substance Misuse Liaison Services Commissioned by both the PHA and SPPG this service is in place within acute hospitals in-patient settings (in particular, admission wards and Emergency Departments) across the 5 HSC Trusts. The service focuses on harmful/hazardous substance misuse among acute hospital admissions (non-dependent) and not requiring access to specialist addiction-specific interventions. Crisis Support Services The Public Health Agency currently fund interventions across Northern Ireland that offer crisis support and support for self-harm. Self-Harm Intervention Project (SHIP) Provides psychological interventions for individuals who have self-harmed to prevent repetition of self-harm and suicide in line with National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance. On average clients will receive approximately 5 sessions with flexibility for those who require additional support, up to approximately 10 sessions. Lifeline Lifeline is Northern Ireland’s crisis response helpline for people experiencing distress or despair or who are suicidal. It is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year and provides compassionate, trauma-informed support. Other services supporting the delivery of substance use treatment services across Northern Ireland include; Workforce Development Services This regional service develops and delivers a range of training courses to support the implementation of the PHA/SPPG Drug and Alcohol Commissioning Framework, ensuring there is a pathway for alcohol and drug workers from all sectors to achieve a recognised qualification in substance misuse. Drugs and Alcohol Co-ordination Team’s Connection Services This Northern Ireland wide service seeks to build capacity for those working and volunteering in communities including provision of information, resources and signposting.
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