Young People and AOD
For Young Person in the process of developing their own identity, alcohol and other drugs are used for a variety of reasons including:
- providing pleasure;
- normal risk-taking behaviour; alleviating boredom;
- satisfying curiosity;
- facilitating social bonding;
- attaining peer status;
- or as an escape or coping mechanism.
It is important to note not every Young Person who uses alcohol and drugs is dependent or exhibits challenging behaviour.
A Young Person using alcohol and other drugs can present with a range of behaviours, these behaviours can be confronting and distressing for family, community members and allied health and community workers. Below we have provided a range of resources and tools to support you to Young People.
- Adolescence Mind is Under Construction Resources
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These resources are compiled by Sudha Coutinho B.App.Sc.OT from her presentatiopn Under Construction : There’s a lot going on! - Adolescent Development and the Impact of AOD and trauma as part of the AADANT Youth AOD Forums 2020.
Short Videos
Dan Siegal The Adolescent Brain
Under Construction: Alcohol and the Teenage Brain
Got A Lot Going On - Yarn Safe Music Video | headspace
Readings
The Adolescent Brain: A second window of opportunity - A compendium.
Edited by Nikola Balvin and Prerna Banati. Published by UNICEF.What is Trauma-Informed Care?
University at Buffalo - Buffalo Center for Social ResearchInfographics
How Trauma Can Affect Your Window of Tolerance
The National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioural MedicineSurvival Loop
Beacon HouseThe 3 R’s Reaching the learning brain
Beacon HouseTraditional vs Trauma Informed Language
Beacon House - NT Youth Alcohol and Other Drugs Directory
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This directory is presented in 5 regions:
With categorised support options:
- Early interventions and counselling
- Outreach and specialist services
- Day programs and residential rehabilitation
Alcohol and other drug services working with Young People also have limited capacity across vast regions, so developing holistic support systems are important. In order to provide stability across all aspects of a Young Person’s life, all support options should be:
- in discussion with a Young Person’s family,
- accessed in conjunction with local youth and health services,
- coordinated with a case manager, where suitable and all other support services working with the Young Person.
Full Directory Download - click here
- NT Youth AOD Monthly Zoom Meeting
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If you are a service in the NT working with Young People with AOD concerns from across the NT join us for our monthly zoom meeting.
This is a place to connect, access support and peer connections, articulate challenges, and collectively problem solve.
Meetings are held first Wednesday of every month. Please see meeting schedule below for upcoming meetings, times and video link.
We encourage all levels of workforce to join and understand community service work is busy and so attendance is not required every month.
If you would like to speak to our project officer about these meetings or would like more information, please contact Britt Guy project2@aadant.org.au or call 0499 980 600 Monday-Wednesday.
Date Time Location Wednesday 2 December 10:00AM-11:30AM Zoom - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/922032819 Wednesday 3 February 10:00AM-11:30AM Zoom - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/922032819 Wednesday 3 March 10:00AM-11:30AM Zoom - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/922032819 - Resources
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Free Online and Phone Youth Counselling Services for Young People in the NT
Emerging Lessons Learnt from Online Engagment
As our world changed rapidly in 2020 due to COVID-19 most of our communication and services moved online. For those supporting clients with AOD concerns this has required a complete rethink on how one-on-one service delivery can be achieved for clients.
At AADANT we have been meeting with the NT Youth AOD Services sector fortnightly on Zoom. Through these conversations, key learnings have emerged about online engagement with young people.
- Case Studies - Remote NT Youth Services sharing their stories
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As part of the AADANT Youth Program in 2020 we visisted the NPY Women’s Council and Thamarrurr Indigenous Youth Corporation to capture the voices of young people and the services that support them. These short films were shared across the NT as part of the Youth Alcohol and Other Drug Forums in November 2020.
The case studies were to created to make sure young people’s voices were in the centre of participants thinking and to remind services and workers in attendance of the vast needs across the NT outside of the regional towns.
NPY Women’s Council
Thamarrurr Indigenous Youth Corporation
- Professional Development
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YOUTH GENERAL
Under Construction: Cannabis and the Teenage Brain
Youth Support and Advocacy Service - Youth AOD Toolbox
Open Doors - Perspectives on Working with LGBTIQAP+ Sistergirl & Brotherboy Young People - click here
Dots and the Brain - Neuroplasticity
Trauma and the Brain from Youth AOD Organisation Dovetail - click here
Care Planning for Resilience from The Centre of Youth AOD Research and Practice - click here
Responding to inhalant use in Queensland - click here
Managing Disclosure in Therapeutic Relationships: Video by Dr Karen Hallam, YSAS Melbourne - click here
COVID-19 SPECIFIC
Training in telephone counselling for AOD - click here
Tip sheet on supporting clients through COVID-19 Tips for Alcohol and Drug Workers - click here
Emerging Minds Supporting children during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic - click here
We will be updating this page with information, support and resources for young people living in the Northern Territory. Please return often to see the latest updates.