‘I've had a pretty tough life but that's not why I do this’: narratives of autonomy and control among alcohol and drug service-engaged early teenagers

Framing ‘drug prevention’ for young people in contact with the criminal justice system in England: views from practitioners in the field

“…We want to help young people make successful changes and build on their strengths. Similar to previous research on young people, this type of approach underlines and recognises the importance of young people being in control of their lives and responsible for their successes or failures and allowing them the freedom and ability to choose their own outcomes (Furlong and Cartmel, 1997;Kelly, 2006;Foster and Spencer, 2011;MacLean et al, 2013). At the same time, practitioners also suggested that, as with harm reduction approaches, undertaking transformative work was difficult within the context of the criminal justice system.…”

Young people in drug treatment in Ireland: their views on substance use aetiology, trajectory, parents’ role in substance use and coping skills

“…Teenagers in an Australian study indicated that a key purpose of their substance use was the enjoyable social interaction with friends (MacLean et al 2012). In a quantitative study of Irish young adults who were dependent on heroin, it emerged that curiosity was the most common reason for initial opioid use and issues linked to drug tolerance explained the initial decision to progress to injecting (Barry et al 2012).…”

“…For example, Brunelle et al (2005) recruited participants from addiction treatment centres but also youth centres and schools. While MacLean et al (2012) recruited participants who used substances but did not require treatment and participants' substance use was not clearly defined.…”

‘I just wanted a change, a positive change’: Locating hope for young people engaged with residential alcohol and drug services in Victoria, Australia

“…This included re-engaging with education, finding work, having a home and starting a family. As others have noted, for marginalised young people, hope for a 'normal' life through employment, housing, relationships and stability is a common sentiment (Bryant & Ellard, 2015;MacLean et al, 2013). However, the ability to achieve these normative expectations varied, which meant that imagined futures took on different forms.…”