An agreement to provide follow-up treatment to young people that end up in A&E because of alcohol and a scheme to target young people drinking in public places are up for two national prizes at the Community Partnership Awards 2010.
 
Under an agreement between Brighton & Hove’s substance misuse service and Brighton & Sussex University Trust Hospitals A&E, young people admitted to hospital because of alcohol are screened by a multiagency team that provides follow up support.

The service is provided by Ru-ok, which is jointly run by Brighton & Hove City Council and the NHS, and involves school nurses along with targeted youth support.
 
A similar agreement led by Sussex Police and the Anti-Social Behaviour Team called Operation Park tackles underage drinking in public places and anti-social behaviour by targeting young people in the places where they drink and providing follow-up interventions where necessary.
 
The services are in the running for the Youth Community Initiative award and the Health Initiative run by specialist magazines Health Service Journal and Local Government Chronicle.
 
Councillor Dee Simson, Cabinet Member for Community Affairs, said:
“Binge drinking and regular heavy alcohol consumption can lead to accident related injuries, antisocial behaviour and affect school performance. Adolescents also report to having risky sex when they are under the influence of alcohol.
 
“The new pathway and joint working between Ru-ok and other members of the partnership, has made a significant difference in a relatively short time to the care and wellbeing of a particularly vulnerable population.
 
“It has also successfully reduced antisocial behaviour and kept young people out of danger, identifying young people at risk with the aim to tackle the problem before they end up in A&E or involved in the criminal justice system.”

For more information about Brighton and Hove Council view:
www.brighton-hove.gov.uk