Substance Advice Service

The Substance Advice Service is a specialist service for children and young people aged 10 to 18 who are affected by substance use, either directly or indirectly. The service is also available to families and carers, as well as professionals who work with them. 

We provide information, advice and education around drugs, alcohol and nicotine. We also provide treatment programs for children who want to cut down or quit using drugs and alcohol.

We are a small team of qualified and experienced staff based within the Youth Justice and Prevention Service. All staff have completed training around understanding trauma and offer a trauma responsive service. 

Our work is based on the Youth Justice System's Child First approach. This means our support of children and families comes first.

Most of our work completed with children is on a voluntary engagement basis. We can meet children wherever they feel most comfortable, whether it's at school or college, at home, in our building or in a community setting such as a youth club or café. 

Some examples of the support we can offer includes:

• one to one support, short session work or group work
• full assessment to develop an individualised plan with the child and their family or carers
• support with engagement in positive activities such as education, employment and hobbies
• support with physical, mental and emotional health work
• keeping safe and harm reduction work
• support for children with familial substance use
• relapse prevention interventions
• support offered for children who want to cut down or stop using substances
• understanding the law, exploitation and county lines
• support to access other relevant services

We provide specialist training to professionals, including foster carers supporting children across North Somerset. 

All information is available via iLearn and we can develop tailor-made training sessions on request.

We can also offer:

• consultation and support to partner agencies
• health promotion at events
• group work for schools, other education providers and youth groups
• education resources