Launch of the ‘Let’s talk about Drugs’ National Youth Media Awards 2018

Ana Liffey Drug Project asks young people to talk about drugs

The Ana Liffey Drug Project today launched the Drugs.ie “Let’s Talk About Drugs” National Youth Media Awards Competition 2018 with Bláthnaid Treacy from RTE’s Two Tube. The competition, which is in its fifth year, aims to encourage young people between the ages of 12-25 to think and talk about drug and alcohol related issues creatively.

To enter, young people are asked to create either: a short video, an audio podcast, a news article or a poster. There are great prizes on offer, and each year hundreds of young people enter. This year, the Ana Liffey are taking a new approach to the competition, having school age young people focus on the risks involved with cannabis and alcohol and having over 18s focus on the risks involved with club drugs and performance and image enhancing drugs (PIEDS). This means that young people can have meaningful, age appropriate conversations and create more innovative entries that speak to their peers.

Speaking at the launch today, Bláthnaid Treacy noted that it was important for young people to talk about drugs and to do so in a healthy, age appropriate context:

“Many young people will come into contact with drugs during their school and college years. When they do, it’s important that they can make informed, healthy decisions based on evidence. The ‘Let’s Talk About Drugs’ awards is a great opportunity for young people to engage with their peers around these issues. I was involved last year, and I’m delighted to take part this year too – it’s a great project.”

Ana Liffey engaged with young adults aged18-25 at Electric Picnic this year, and saw people using a variety of drugs such as ketamine, MDMA, LSD and GHB.

The competition has lots of great prizes, with four age categories (12-14; 15-17; 18-21; 22-25), two in each broader age grouping. Each category winner will receive €250 in One4All vouchers. In addition, the overall winners of the 12-17 and 18-25 age groups will each receive vouchers to the value of €1,000.

The deadline for entries is the 22nd of January 2018, and full competition details are available at drugs.ie/awards.