Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the level of substance abuse by teenagers.

Local authorities are responsible for assessing local need for alcohol and drug prevention and treatment in their area, and commissioning services to meet these needs. Public Health England (PHE) works with local authorities providing guidance tools, data and expertise to help them assess and plan young people’s alcohol and drug prevention and treatment.

As part of the Government’s Drug Strategy, PHE is supporting programmes which have a positive impact on young people, giving them the confidence, resilience and risk management skills to resist drug use. This includes supporting schools and educators by expanding the Alcohol and Drugs Education and Prevention Information Service, which provides practical advice and tools.

PHE also commissions the ‘Rise Above’ digital hub which uses interactive content to help build young people’s resilience and empowers them to make positive, healthy choices.

FRANK continues to provide important factual advice on the risks and effects of drugs.