Chapter Contents
Also see our safer care advice in relation to alcohol, smoking and drugs.
Alcohol
Alcohol is often associated with pleasure, relaxation and socialisation. However, it is a drug that can harm both physical and mental health. Some fostered young people have lived with adults who misuse alcohol, and this will have shaped their own attitudes towards alcohol. Others will have cultural or religious beliefs that forbid the use of alcohol. It is important that young people can talk with you about how they feel.
Young people often try alcohol for the first time as teenagers, and this is often in the company of friends. At this age, they might not recognise the potential risks:
- Accidents – alcohol affects balance, co-ordination and risk perception
- Violence and aggression – alcohol affects emotions and behaviour, and some people become aggressive
- Unprotected sex – when we drink alcohol we lose our inhibitions and can act impulsively. This can lead to unplanned pregnancy and STIs
- Alcohol poisoning – drinking large amounts of alcohol can lead to loss of consciousness and death.
Please talk with your young people about alcohol and healthy lifestyle choices. Always model sensible use of alcohol in the home.
The law and alcohol
Young people under 18 can be stopped, fined or arrested if they are caught drinking alcohol in public. It is illegal for them to buy or try to buy alcohol, and it is illegal for shops to sell them alcohol.
The law permits parents to allow their children, over the age of 5 years, to drink alcohol in the home. A young person over 16 is also allowed to drink (but not buy) alcohol in a pub or restaurant as part of a meal with their parents.
Foster parents cannot, without the permission of the Local Authority and anyone else with parental responsibility, give alcohol to a young person in foster care. Where permission has been given, the Chief Medical Officer for England’s guidance should be followed. This guidance states that:
- An alcohol free childhood is the healthiest option. However, if children drink it should not be until, at least, the age of 15 years.
- If young people aged 15 to 17 years consume alcohol it should always be with the guidance of a carer or in a supervised environment.
- Foster parents and young people should be aware that drinking even at the age of 15 or older can be hazardous to health. If 15 to 17 year-olds do consume alcohol they should do so infrequently and certainly on no more than one day a week.
- Young people should never exceed the recommended adult daily limits when they drink. Consumption should usually be below such levels. (The maximum recommended intake in one day is 2-3 units for women and 3-4 units for men)
Read the Chief Medical Officer’s guidance here:
For more information, see our Alcohol, Drugs and Solvents policy:
Training opportunity: Smoking, Alcohol and Drugs
Smoking
Smoke free environments
“Smokefree” law, introduced in 2007, banned smoking in both the work place and indoor areas which are used by the public. All ISP premises are subject to this legislation which applies to both staff and visitors. The law was extended in October 2015 to include a ban on smoking in cars with a child under the age of 18 years present.
Smoking, and exposure to second-hand smoke (“passive smoking”) is harmful to health both in the short and long-term – with harm to the lungs and heart in particular. Children exposed to cigarette smoke are at risk of developing lung diseases, including asthma, and exposure can make existing conditions worse. We expect all of our foster homes to be smoke-free environments. In addition, nobody should smoke in a vehicle with a child.
ISP will not make the following placements with any foster family who has a smoker living in the household:
- Children under the age of 5 years.
- Parent and child.
- Child of any age with a respiratory illness which is known to be aggravated by smoke.
Where foster parents do smoke, the issue will be discussed at supervision and annual review. ISP will always encourage our foster parents to give up smoking and provide support throughout the process.
Young people and smoking
While research shows that smoking among young people is in decline, many young people continue to try smoking, and some of these will become regular smokers. Some young people in foster care smoke and you should encourage and support them to reduce and ultimately give up smoking. Young people can get support to give up from their GP. The NHS “smokefree” website is also a helpful resource.
It is against the law to buy cigarettes for young people under the age of 18 years – if you are looking after young people who smoke you must not buy cigarettes for them. Smoking should be discussed with the young person’s social worker and a plan for managing this included within the health plan and the risk assessment.
ISP will respect your wishes if you choose not to foster young people who are known to smoke and you should inform the placements team if you do not wish to be considered for such placements. Young people who do smoke must not be permitted to smoke within your home, and you should inform the young person of the house rules on smoking before, or at the start of placement.
Electronic Cigarettes
The same rules apply to electronic cigarettes (‘vapes’) as to smoking. The potential health risks of vaping is currently unknown and their sale is restricted to over-18s.
Information about smoking and its effects on health is available from ASH.
For more information, reading our Smoking Policy:
Training opportunity: Smoking, Alcohol and Drugs
Illegal Drugs
What are illegal drugs?
‘Illegal’ drugs are substances which are controlled under the Drugs Act (2005) and the Misuse of Drugs Act (1971). The law places illegal drugs into three different categories, or ‘classes’. These classes (A, B and C) carry different penalties for possession and dealing. The following Home Office website provides information about the classification of drugs and maximum penalties: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/drugs/drug-law/
Some examples
The Psychoactive Substances Act (2015) addressed the problem of ‘legal highs’ by outlawing any substances that have a psychoactive effect, when they are sold for this purpose.
Talking with young people about drugs
You need to be able to talk with young people about drugs and help them make healthy lifestyle choices. Some young people in care will have experienced living in households where drugs were abused, and some will have been exposed to drugs in the womb. Other young people will have cultural or religious beliefs that forbid drug use. It is important that young people can talk with you about how they feel about drugs and ask questions as they arise.
Some young people will come into contact with drugs as they get older, often in the company of friends. At this age many young people will not appreciate the potential dangers of drugs, or be aware of what they are taking, or their effects. They are likely to receive mixed messages from peers, adults and the media. Young people who are upset and troubled are especially vulnerable to using substances that offer a change of mood or consciousness.
Young people in care may get involved for many reasons. These can be to escape from painful experiences, to seek attention, to rebel, to take risks, or to bow to the pressure of their friends and acquaintances. Whatever the reason they have used drugs, it is important to try to talk openly with them to help them make informed and healthy lifestyle choices.
Our Tips:
- Remind young people of your views and the house rules, but also let them know that they can come and talk to you if they have a problem or are worried.
- Use opportunities to give young people knowledge about drug use along with the support services that are around.
- Ask them what they are learning at school about alcohol, smoking and drugs.
- Reinforce their sense of self-worth through demonstrating your acceptance of who they are. This will assist them to be able to make good decisions and keep themselves safe.
- Encourage them to develop positive values around their own health choices and explore with them how to resist peer pressure.
Common symptoms of drug misuse
There are many warning signs of drug use and abuse. The challenge for foster carers is to distinguish between the normal, sometimes volatile, ups and downs of puberty and the teenage years, and the red flags of drug abuse.
Physical warning signs of drug abuse
- Bloodshot eyes or pupils that are larger or smaller than usual, or use of eye drops to mask this.
- Changes in appetite or sleep patterns. Sudden weight loss or weight gain.
- Deterioration of physical appearance and personal grooming habits.
- Unusual smells on breath, body, or clothing.
- Tremors, slurred speech, or impaired coordination.
- Using incense, perfume, or air freshener to hide the smell of smoke or drugs.
Behavioural warning signs of drug abuse
- Drop in attendance and performance at school or work.
- Unexplained need for money or financial problems.
- Missing money or personal possessions
- Being secretive about friends, possessions, and activities.
- Sudden change in friends, favourite hangouts, and hobbies.
- New interest in clothing, music, and other items that highlight drug use.
- Frequently getting into trouble (fights, accidents, illegal activities).
Psychological warning signs of drug abuse
- Unexplained change in personality or attitude.
- Sudden mood swings, irritability, or angry outbursts.
- Periods of unusual hyperactivity, agitation, or giddiness.
- Being unusually isolated, withdrawn, or depressed.
- Demanding more privacy – locking doors, avoiding eye contact, sneaking around.
- Lack of motivation – seems very tired or “spaced out.”
- Seems fearful, anxious, or paranoid, with no reason.
If you find out that a young person is, or has been using drugs, you need to report this to ISP and discuss with your supervising social worker and the young person’s social worker how best to manage the situation. Some young people might need specialist help to deal with a drug habit and ISP will be able to help make a referral to these services.
Visit the FRANK website for further information about drugs.
What if I find drugs in my home?
If you find any substances in your home which might be illegal drugs, report this immediately to your supervising social worker, manager, or ISP out-of-hours service. They will inform the young person’s social worker.
All drugs and unidentified substances must be passed to the police for safe destruction, although our procedures are designed to avoid the unnecessary criminalisation of young people. Please read our guidance here:
Please read our guidance and procedure here:
Reducing Criminalisation Guidance and Procedure For Destruction of Illegal or Unidentified Drugs
Training opportunities: Smoking, Alcohol and Drugs (ISP) and Introduction to Drug Awareness (Polaris)
For more information, see our Alcohol, Drugs and Solvents policy:
