← Back

UK DHSC · UK · 1 Oct 2026 · Guidance

Children and young people's alcohol and drug services: framework

AI-generated summary

The UK Department of Health and Social Care published a national framework setting expectations for how local areas should design, commission and provide alcohol and drug support for children aged 17 and under and young people aged 18 to 24. The framework applies to directors of public health, commissioners, providers, and partner agencies in public health, education, safeguarding, policing, youth justice, mental health and alcohol and drug services. It was developed with stakeholder consultation including young people with lived experience.

From UK DHSC

This national framework sets out clear expectations for how local areas should design, commission and provide high-quality alcohol and drug support for children and young people. It covers interventions for:

children aged 17 and under, delivered by children and young people’s specialist drug and alcohol treatment services

young people aged 18 to 24, as part of transitional arrangements in children and young people’s alcohol and drug services or in adult alcohol and drug treatment services

It was developed in consultation with stakeholders, including young people with lived experience.

The framework is for:

directors of public health

commissioners

providers

partner agencies supporting children and young people, including those working in public health, education, safeguarding, policing, youth justice, mental health and alcohol and drug services

Excerpt from the official page. The original is authoritative.