Tiered approach to drug prevention and treatment among young people

The National Collaborating Centre for Drug Prevention [NCCDP] is undertaking a review of recent [2002-2004] government sponsored research and policy related to drug prevention. The aim of the work is to encourage evidence based practice through the dissemination of research evidence to practitioners and commissioners and making recommendations to policy makers. This is the second1 in the series of updates and considers the effectiveness of interventions within the context of the young persons' drug prevention and treatment tiers. The aim of this briefing is to describe the four tiered approach to drug prevention and treatment of young people; it's efficacy and relationship to current drug prevention policy; and within this context, to present evidence from recent government sponsored research into the effectiveness of interventions within each tier. Gaps in knowledge and practice are highlighted and recommendations made. This report is of particular importance to practitioners and commissioners working in young people's services, with relevance for those working in adult drugs services and policy makers. This is not intended to be a comprehensive review of research evidence for interventions at all tiers. The first section explains the origins of the model before describing key concepts and practical application in detail. The second section places the tiered approach within the context of recent drug prevention policy and targets. Subsequent sections focus on each tier in turn. Tiers 3 and 4 are considered together, as tier 4 services are considered to be an adjunct to tier 3 provision. Within each of these sections the tiers are described in more detail and evidence from the review of government-sponsored literature relating to approaches and interventions is presented. (Extract of the publication)