THE North Eastern Health Board has highlighted the growing problem of substance abuse, an ink crease in the numbers of teenagers taking overdoses and a 25 per cent increase in the number of incidents of child sexual abuse reported to it in 1995.
In its review of the Adequacy of Child Care and Family Support Services 1995, which health boards are obliged to compile under the Child Care Act, the NEHB also said it expects that the number of cases of children being admitted to hospital because of self injury will increase.
The 53 page report said the child and psychiatry department had identified the need for additional research into psychiatric disorders. Particularly urgent was a needs analysis for the provision of psychiatric services for 16 to 18 year olds.
There was also a need to study the psychiatric treatment requirements of children in care and how these can best be met. Further studies on sexual abuse and suicidal and para-suicidal behaviour were necessary, the report added.
Figures for 1993-95 inclusive show annual increases in the number of reported incidents of physical abuse and sexual abuse of children. Last year, 95 cases of physical abuse were reported to the NEHB, of which 33 were confirmed. There were 201 reports of sexual abuse compared to 158 in 1994 but the number confirmed 71 remained the same.
There were 289 cases of neglect reported, a drop of three on 1995, with 101 confirmed. In addition to the figures given to the members of the Health Board at its monthly meeting yesterday, they were also told the board was still assessing a large number of reported cases of child abuse and neglect.
In identifying the needs of children aged 16-18, the NEHB carried out research into the number of adolescents at risk in the Drogheda area as an indication of the need in the larger urban populations and as an opportunity to carry out a need assessment.
The survey was carried out last year and focused on young people between 13 and 18 at serious risk. All second level schools, social workers, the child and adolescent psychiatry teams, local voluntary organisations, the gardai, FAS and local youth organisations were included.
The 1991 census indicated a second level school population of 4,247. The survey found 170 adolescents in the high risk category and in need of special services. These were teenagers who did not fit into the present range of services provided in Drogheda and tended either to have excluded themselves because of their behaviour or never affiliated to the services.
The survey found they had related problems in terms of stance abuse. They were often the victims of abuse and sometimes the perpetrators of abuse.
The health board which covers Cos Cavan, Louth, Meath and Monaghan said it had found a growing problem of substance abuse by some young people in the region Cases have reported of young teenagers sniffing gas, glue, using ecstasy and experimenting with harder drugs such as heroin.
Besides highlighting the needs of children and families, the report detailed the increased staffing and resources the board has had to put into the area and into meeting its requirements under the Child Care Act 1991.
It said additional resources would be required to bolster already over stretched services. A broad community and professional consensus and quality in the board's services would be necessary to produce lasting change child care.