This document discusses substance misuse problems among children in local authority care in the UK. It finds that between 2011-2013, the proportion of looked after children identified with substance misuse problems was between 1-4.5% for boys and 1-3% for girls. In 2013, 950 looked after children received an intervention for substance misuse, most between the ages of 13-17. Data from Public Health England shows similar numbers of looked after children receiving treatment in 2012/13.

1. Children in Care and
Substance Misuse Problems
Outcomes for children looked
after by local authorities

2. Note
• The term ‘drug’ is used to refer to any psychotropic
substance, including illegal drugs, illicit use of
prescription drugs and volatile substances.
• Young people’s drug taking is often inextricably linked
with the consumption of alcohol. Therefore the term
‘substance’ refers to both drugs and alcohol but not
tobacco.
• Substance misuse is defined as ‘intoxication by (or
regular excessive consumption or and/or dependence
on) psychoactive substances, leading to
social, psychological, physical or legal problems’. It
includes problematic use of both legal and illegal
drugs (including alcohol when used in combination
with other substances).

3. Proportion of Looked After Children
identified with substance misuse problem
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5
4.0
4.5
5.0
2011 2012 2013
% Boys
Girls

4. Looked After Boys
0
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
1,400
Identified with
substance misuse
problem
Received
intervention
Refused
intervention
Number
2011
2012
2013

5. Looked After Girls
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
Identified with
substance misuse
problem
Received
intervention
Refused
intervention
Number
2011
2012
2013

6. Number of Looked After Children indentified
with substance misuse problem, by age
0
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
9 years and
under
10 to 12 years 13 to 15 years 16 to 17 years
Number
2013

7. Cross checking with PHE data
• The data presented here suggests that 950 looked
after young people received an intervention in 2013.
• Public Health England’s report on specialist drug and
alcohol treatment services for young people identified
923 young people who received treatment in 2012/13
as being in care.
• PHE also identify a further 1,477 who received
treatment as being either in supported accommodation
or young offenders.
• They also suggest that a total of 2,275 referrals to
specialist treatment from Social Care sources, of
which 495 were from Looked After Children teams.