Adolescent
substance
misuse
continues
to
dominate
the
global
discourse
on
adolescent
problematic
behaviour
and
this
is
gaining
momentum
and
intensity
in
Ireland.
Research
in
this
area
has
increased
in
the
past
two
decades,
(Waldron
&
Turner,
2008);
most
of
this
research
has
focused
on
treatment
outcomes.
At
present
the
research
on
adolescent
substance
misuse
in
an
Irish
context
is
sparse,
additionally
research
focusing
on
adolescent
service
user
perspectives
internationally
is
limited
(Baker,
2007).
Although
research
in
other
countries
has
increased,
questions
relating
to
the
aetiology
of
substance
misuse
in
this
age
group
and
successful
treatment
approaches
remain
unanswered.
There
is
a
trend
to
treat
mental
health
and
substance
misuse
as
two
separate
problems
when
the
research
shows
that
they
mutually
contribute
to
each
other
and
a
better
understanding
of
this
would
improve
outcomes
for
children
involved
in
these
services.
The
research
conducted
using
client
files
of
93
young
people
in
the
Cork-‐Kerry
region
identifies
that
best
practice
when
working
with
young
people
should
at
a
minimum
involve
working
in
the
context
of
the
family,
collaborative
inter
agency
and
shared
care
planning.
The
intention
of
the
study
is
to
gain
a
greater
insight
into
the
life
experience
of
adolescents
misusing
substances
and
the
implication
of
this
for
professionals
working
in
relevant
areas
of
mental
health,
social
work
and
justice.
The
importance
of
understanding
the
issue
from
the
perspective
of
service
users
and
their
right
to
shape
their
care
plans
and
the
significance
that
this
has
on
service
design
and
delivery.