substance use
Councils are currently discussing substance use in the context of safeguarding adults and redesigning young people's health services.
Wandsworth's Safeguarding Adults Board reported in September 2026 that safeguarding arrangements remain effective, with strong multi-agency partnership working contributing to positive outcomes for residents. The annual report for 2025/26, presented to the Health and Wellbeing Board, highlighted that 99.7% of recorded safeguarding outcomes were fully or partially achieved. Substance use is a recurring theme in safeguarding activity.
Hackney Council is redesigning young people's health services, aiming for a more integrated model, as decided in December 2025. Public Health is leading this redesign, shifting from direct delivery of Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education in schools. The focus is now on empowering schools to deliver PSHE themselves, with targeted support for sensitive topics such as substance use.
Meanwhile, Islington's Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee discussed public health performance and adult social care outcomes in September 2026. Redbridge's Children and Young People Committee also met in September 2026 to discuss the Families First Pathfinder programme and the Youth Justice Strategic Plan, both areas where the use of drugs or alcohol can be a factor.
Key facts
- Wandsworth's Safeguarding Adults Board reported in September 2026 that 99.7% of recorded safeguarding outcomes were fully or partially achieved. Source
- Hackney Council is redesigning young people's health services, with a focus on empowering schools to deliver PSHE including substance use education, as of December 2025. Source
About this summary
This summary was written automatically from our published stories and the council meeting records they draw on. It describes what councils have discussed and decided; it does not take a view on any decision. Each key fact links to the story it comes from. Updated 30 September 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.