Why Wait? Lifematters conference and launch

Tuesday 13 March 2007

Tuesday 13 March 2007

9:30AM

3:30PM

LISBURN CIVIC CENTRE

FREE

Event

“Why Wait” summarises the rationale for the establishment of the programme, and informs the direction of the programme delivery:

• Young people are not waiting to engage with substances, but are engaging in misuse at a much earlier age.
• Young people need a young persons service now, while they are young, and moreover a service designed and implemented with young people in mind,
• Young people will benefit from a service that they can engage with at an early stage in their pattern of misuse, rather than wait until the problem is chronic and engrained.

Richard Ives and Jill Britton will be coming to Northern Ireland for the conference, they will inform us about the prevalence of the difficulties young people face with substances, but also inform our practice in addressing these difficulties with the young. Robb Phipps, Regional Drug & Alcohol Coordinator will update the delegates on the Regional Drugs & Alcohol Strategy, and how it relates to our work with children and young people.

The Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People, Patricia Lewsley, will conclude by translating the themes of the conference in terms of the health and well being of children and young people in Northern Ireland.

This programme is followed by a range of practical down to earth seminars which will offer information and training to those who work with young people, where substance misuse is a difficulty. Amongst other topics, the seminars will look at, supporting families where young people are misusing substances, suicide and young people who misuse substances, and discovering the dynamics at work in young peoples group work.