Youth Support + Advocacy Services (YSAS) is a leading youth health not-for-profit agency that enables highly vulnerable and high risk young people, or those at risk of becoming so, with substance dependence and misuse, mental illness and social disconnection to take control of their health and wellbeing. Established in 1998, YSAS has now supported over 20,000 highly vulnerable young Victorians, or those at risk of becoming so. Over half of the young people we supported in 2011-12 either ceased or significantly reduced their drug use. We ask all Australians to look beyond the stereotype of those struggling with drug, alcohol and mental health issues, and see youth in a different light _ as individuals with rights, strengths and their own hopes for the future.