News / Children and alcohol
ALCOHOL misuse continues to be a problem among children in Shetland, according to social workers and health officials.
In its annual report, the Shetland Child Protection Committee (CPC) said that once again there were “a significant number of referrals” for alcohol and drug misuse, with alcohol being a bigger problem.
This follows comments from the local alcohol and drugs service CADSS that alcohol was proving more of a concern than hard drugs with young people in the isles.
However in contrast to comments from national organisations, the CPC report says parents’ drinking and drug taking is becoming less of an issue in the isles.
“There were a lower number of referrals where parent’s drug or alcohol misuse was an issue,” it said.
CPC vice chair Dr Sarah Taylor said there was no evidence that the number of children drinking was rising.
“It is an issue in Shetland but I don’t want to get it out of proportion. A small number of young people drink at a level that is worrying and where we need to take action,” she said.
“In some respects we think the message about drinking is getting through to young people, but clearly there is a small group of young people who do drink heavily, and where their families are finding it difficult to cope with that they fall under child protection.”
A total of 126 children in Shetland were referred to social work services in 2011/12 over child protection concerns.
Following an initial assessment, 52 cases were investigated further leading to 30 children being placed on the child protection register during the course of the year, mostly for physical neglect or emotional abuse.
The overall number of children in Shetland aged 15 and under who are being placed on the register is half the national average, but health officials caution against reading too much into such statistics due to the small numbers involved.
Taylor added: “The annual report brings home the fact that child protection is an issue in Shetland. By and large we think Shetland is a very safe place for children and mostly it is, but a number of children are at risk and aren’t safe.
Shetland CPC’s annual report can be found at http://www.childprotectionshetland.com/assets/files/cpc-annual%20-report%20-2011-12.pdf
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