Young offenders are considered one of the most vulnerable or at risk groups of developing drug problems and they are likely to be affected by a myriad of health and social inequalities. This proposal focuses on young people aged between 15 and 24 who have been in contact with the criminal justice system. The ‘health in all policies’ approach encourages consideration of the needs of this target group across policy domains, including public health.

The objectives of this proposal address the 3rd EU Health Programme: they are to gather knowledge, exchange best practice and identify transferable innovations and principles of good practice on interventions to prevent illicit drug use, the development of polydrug use and the use of new psychoactive drugs (NPS) among vulnerable young people in touch with the criminal justice systems in partner countries (Austria, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Poland and the UK); to assess identified initiatives against minimum quality standards in drug demand reduction; to examine the appropriateness of the existing standards within the criminal justice context and to develop a set of guidelines adapted to initiatives aimed at the target group; and to initiate a European knowledge exchange network for practitioners and stakeholders working with young people in the criminal justice system.

In order to understand the perspectives of the young people and those who work with them, the project employs a range of qualitative approaches including literature reviews, a scoping survey to collect new information on initiatives, interviews and focus groups, data obtained through interaction on the project website, and documented webinar discussions, consultations with stakeholders and young people and output from thematic meetings. Key outcomes include: increased policy and practice knowledge of preventive interventions, innovative practices and quality criteria among relevant stakeholders; increased engagement of professionals in a European knowledge exchange practitioner forum; awareness of new quality standards guidelines and how to access them.

