Addressing substance use disorders (SUD) in children is a challenge because mainstream SUD treatment services are mainly designed for adults and adolescent populations. There is little guidance to help treatment practitioners who are providing services for children falling in the age between infancy and adolescence. Left untreated, a growing population of children with SUDs could compromise the health, safety and stability of communities and nations.

Through its CHILD Project, DAP is ensuring children’s access to age-appropriate SUD treatment modalities by building the capacity of treatment practitioners to provide suitable interventions for children by addressing the gap that is characterised by treatment providers’ need for guidance in developing interventions that support children in the process of treatment and recovery from SUD.