SOLVE IT

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SOLVE IT

• Prevention Through Education

VOLATILE SUBSTANCE ABUSE
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(No Transcript)
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OUTREACH OBJECTIVES

• Ensure the provision of early intervention
• To have a impact on local issues in Corby,
  Northants
• Targeting young people who, for whatever reason,
  do not access mainstream education
• Targeting parents and carers collectively and on
  an individual basis
• Provision of VSA awareness for professionals
  working with young people

The post is funded by The Childrens Fund It is
funded for 12 hours a week only Originally
targeting 9 13 year olds, however, the success
of the role has enabled the age range to be
increased to target all young people
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YOUNG PEOPLE AND VSA

• As many as one fifth of young people say that
  they have abused volatile substances.
• VSA is, for certain ages, a bigger killer than
  leukaemia, pneumonia and drowning combined, and
  that, for certain ages, it constitutes a
  significant proportion of all deaths.
• Volatile substances are often one of the first
  substances that young people will experiment
  with.
• To many young people those who misuse volatile
  substances on a regular basis can be considered
  saddoes. This attitude can make those involved
  in chronic VSA even more socially isolated than
  they would otherwise be.
• Data on VSA deaths show that two thirds of all
  deaths are amongst people under the age of 18.
• Cocaine and ecstasy can kill but more teenagers
  die from misusing household products than from
  these two substances.
• Whilst high practising safer sex is
  forgotten. This could lead to unwanted
  pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases and
  HIV

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VSA versus EcstasyComparisons for 1999
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LIFE SKILLS WORKBOOK
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Is sniffing legal? YES/NO  Is sniffing
dangerous? YES/NO  Does sniffing have long
term effects? YES/NO  Can sniffing kill
you? YES/NO  Is it OK to only sniff
once? YES/NO  Does sniffing make people
happy? YES/NO  Will sniffing make you
popular? YES/NO  Will sniffing affect your
schoolwork? YES/NO Is it OK to sniff with
friends? YES/NOWill sniffing help you to find
a partner? YES/NOIs it cool to
sniff? YES/NOIs there a safe way to
sniff? YES/NOIs sniffing more dangerous than
heroin? YES/NOWill sniffing help you achieve
your dreams? YES/NO
INITIAL QUESTIONNAIRE
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PRIORITIES
Consider which of these statements will influence
you most in NOT accepting any offered substance.
Put them in order of the most influential
first. I dont know the person who is offering
it to me. I am worried about what it might do to
me. I dont need it, I feel OK without it. I am
not sure what it is. I cant afford it. I might
be being ripped off. My parents / carer might
find out. I could get in trouble with the
police. My friends might fall out with me. I
might do something that I wont remember.  
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HOW IMPORTANT IS ..
Proving myself to my mates 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 What my friends think of me 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 The things my parents / carer worry about 1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Coming home on time 1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 Doing well at school 1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 Getting a good job when I leave
school 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Making my parents /
carer proud of me 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Staying
out of trouble with the police 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 Wearing the latest fashion 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
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WHERE I WANT TO BE .
WHAT IS YOUR GOAL?
STEP 4
STEP 3
STEP 2
STEP 1
AND HOW AM I GOING TO GET THERE?
What could stop you achieving your goal? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. How can you overcome each of the barriers? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
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MORE ABOUT YOU
  When I feel happy I .
  When I feel sad I .. Wh
en I am scared I . When I
am lonely I .. When I
feel threatened I .. When I
get angry I  . I feel
like a failure when I . When
I am punished it makes me feel .. Wh
en I am worried I When I
feel unloved I . I hate
everybody when ..
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CRIME
Sniffing itself is not illegal therefore is easy
for young people to believe that they are doing
nothing wrong. A very real danger of volatile
substance abuse is that it can often lead young
people to illegal drugs and / or crime. There
are many crimes committed by young people high on
these substances Murders, rapes, assaults,
thefts and vandalism.
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VSA A GATEWAY DRUG?
CHRIS aged 29, started abusing gas when 13 years
old and has just finished a 4½ year sentence for
drug related offences. Id say its a fact that
if your are sniffing solvents, you will move onto
drugs and I guarantee you now that taking drugs
will eventually lead you to Prison or you will
maybe even end up dead BRETT Started abusing
gas and glue at age 10 he has been serving a life
sentence since he was 17 years old. I found
myself in a situation where I used a knife on an
unarmed man in a fight, I stabbed him causing a
fatal wound to the artery in his leg. The man
died . I had killed someone ANDY aged 37,
started using volatile substances at 13 years.
His first prison sentence was in a young
offenders institute, he has since served another
nine sentences, the final one being a life
sentence. I miss my kids and I miss just doing
ordinary things. I hate being locked in a room
for hours and hours and being told what to do.
Told when to eat, when to have exercise, have my
letters read, work all week for seven bloody
quid! Everyday I wish I could turn back the clock
but its too late for me MATTHEW aged 32,
started abusing volatile substances at 12 years,
he first went to prison at age 17 and has since
served another four sentences. My pathway to a
life of drugs, crime and regret started when I
began sniffing gas 20 years ago. That is really
how simple it is!!
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OUTREACH CONTACTS April December 03

• Outreach sessions 87
• Young people seen . 791
• Ongoing support .. 73

TARGETED CRIME PREVENTION EVENTS
FRANK IN CORBY 55 SOLVE IT ROADSHOW
. 1,107 BODYWISE TRAILER .
67 BALLOON FESTIVAL . 217
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SOLVE IT
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