"Three women whose teenage sons died after becoming addicted to drugs have told the BBC the system failed their children."
"We need safe spaces for children buying 1 tablets off the street and developing addictions. We need places for them to get off drugs with proper support, where they're safe and their parents aren't watching them in agony, wondering if they'll die in their bedroom."
"National Drug Treatment Monitoring System data shows a 13% rise in under-18s seeking support in 2024-25, yet experts and families say many are not receiving the help needed."
Three mothers lost teenage sons to addiction and report systemic failures in youth drug treatment. More than half of 16,000 children in treatment over the past year were 15 or younger. Under-18s seeking support rose 13% in 2024-25. The majority of children are treated in the community, but specialist residential options are extremely limited: there are no state-run residential facilities for under-18s and only a few costly private beds. Significant disparities in community care, gaps in strategy, crisis bed shortages, and changing drug trends including rising ketamine use exacerbate the problem. Calls exist for a consistent national strategy and expanded specialist provision.
Read at www.bbc.com
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