Budget cuts to drug and alcohol services for young people are having a "devastating impact" on the fight against substance abuse, according to leading health groups and charities.

Among the services being shut down or scaled back are drug education in schools, treatment for young people battling addiction, and support for professionals working in the sector.

As a result, the independent drugs monitoring body DrugScope, in conjunction with several leading charities, is warning that young people with drugs and alcohol problems are finding it increasingly difficult to find help. It is the first sign that cuts are having a direct impact on front-line rehabilitation and prevention services.

Young people's treatment services have already closed in the London boroughs of Hammersmith & Fulham, Newham and Merton, according to DrugScope. Addaction, one of the UK's major treatment providers, has confirmed that several local authorities have imposed funding cuts on their young people's services of up to 50%.

The Lifeline Project, which provides drug and alcohol treatment for young people across England, is warning that cuts to its services will affect the numbers they can support. "The long-term social and economic costs associated with increased risks in drug taking, admissions to A&E, offending behaviour, school exclusions, sexual health, safeguarding and child protection will far outweigh the short-term benefit of cutting costs," said Martin Moran, director of young people's services.

"The financial cuts we have experienced in some of our services will reduce the number of young people we can help in the future, and could undo the work of recent years."

In February this year, research published by the DoE concluded that drug treatment for young people is cost effective, estimating that for every £1 spent on treatment between £5 and £8 is saved by the NHS and other agencies. "We are extremely concerned at the potential long-term impact of these cuts on young people, their families and communities," said Martin Barnes, chief executive of DrugScope.

Well, what did you expect a Tory government to do? Help the poor, dispossessed and vulnerable? It's not their bag baby, unless they think there are votes in it.