This is a summary presentation of Mentor's inaugural event in the Seminar Series 2013-14. It gives a brief overview of key points from each speaker, and a snapshot of prevention strategies for police, public health, and communities. Speakers: Dave Spencer, ACPO Pete Burkinshaw, Public Health England Andrew Brown, Mentor's Director of Programmes Anna Power, DrugAware

1. Mentor Seminar
Drug and Alcohol Prevention that
Works
December 2013

2. Mentor’s seminar series aims to share our knowledge
and expertise in preventing alcohol & drugs harms with
those influencing policy & practice.

3. In our inaugural seminar, we presented an overview of
prevention strategies, and the impact they can make in
our communities and on public health.

4. Dave Spencer
Chief Inspector, Staff Officer to the ACPO Alcohol Licensing and Harm Reduction Working
Group, Northamptonshire Police
“Alcohol is legal, and
widely available.
Alcohol advertising is
becoming more
pervasive. It now
appears that getting
drunk is a prerequisite to having a
good time.”

5. To control violence in the night-time economy we need to:
increase Minimum Unit Pricing
control supply
manage the environment (street & inside premises)
Flickr user: SnaPsi Сталкер

6. The combined efforts
of police, street
wardens, bar owners,
& door staff can
manage and prevent
irresponsible alcohol
supply and create an
atmosphere of
responsible drinking.
Flickr user: antoinedemorris

7. Pete Burkinshaw
Commissioning & Clinical Practice Development Lead, Alcohol and Drugs Team, Public Health
England
“Imagine you're
standing beside a
river and see
someone drowning.
You jump in and
pull him ashore....

8. “...A moment later, another person
floats past you, and then another
and another. Eventually, you know
can‟t save any more, and head
upstream to find the cause.
“People are falling into the river
through a hole in a bridge. Once
this is fixed, people stop falling in.”

9. Flickr user: MRHSfan
The public health perspective is to ‘go
upstream’ and fix a problem at its
source, not save victims one by one.

10. Flickr user: elycefeliz
We can't view substance misuse in isolation. It’s time
for a more integrated and universal approach linked
to children and young people.

11. Andrew Brown
Director of Programmes, Mentor, Board Member of EUSPR (European Society for Prevention
Research), Advisor to government on drug strategy
“Harsh and inconsistent
punishments are
ineffective, or they can
cause more harm than
good.”

12. There is still an
emphasis on
health harms in
drug education in
the misinformed
belief that this will
disincentivise
youths.
Flickr user: Gareth Williams

13. We need to move towards a broader approach to persuade
schools to implement evidence-based programmes as more
effective means of prevention.

14. Anna Power
Schools Drug and Alcohol Consultant, DrugAware Programme Lead, Nottingham Early
Intervention Team
“5 years ago in Nottingham
a „zero tolerance‟ approach
was the norm – to throw out
students at the first hint of
drug use.”

15. DrugAware
worked with
secondary
schools to
create a new
definition...
...to not watch or walk
past a person in need
and do nothing.
Flickr user: martinak15

16. Young people
are now instead
put into a brief
intervention
which looks at
the entirety of
their risky
behaviour and
life course.
Flickr user: Meral Crifasi
Education link workers intervene
earlier, using smarter identification
within schools to support all
vulnerable pupils – not just targeted
individuals.

17. The case is clear....
• Communication is key
• Integration of services and resources
can aid prevention

18. • A strong evidence base is needed
• A wider life course approach can
support young people better
• Avoiding targeted
interventions can support
more vulnerable young people

19. “Very informative and had a wide
knowledge of relevant topics.”
“Great balance of
perspectives”
“...all were interesting for
different reasons. I particularly
enjoyed Pete and Andrew”
“Increased my knowledge
of prevention (theory and
practice)”
“I found the Public health talk &
Mentor discussion very interesting. It
was also good to hear what other
police forces are experiencing.”

20. Book for our next seminar on
Vulnerable Families in Feb 2014 at
mentoruk.eventbrite.co.uk