Youth media awards on drugs awareness launched

Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar has launched the 2015 ‘Drugs.ie Let’s Talk about Drugs National Youth Media Awards’ at the Department of Health, Dublin. This annual drugs awareness competition is targeting young people in Ireland and aims to help students research and understand various issues relating to drug and alcohol use in Irish society.

Minister Varadkar said: “I’m delighted to launch the 2015 Drugs.ie Let’s Talk About Drugs National Youth Media Awards. These awards give young people an opportunity to discuss issues around alcohol and drugs through a range of media. Targeting young people with prevention in mind, and highlighting the dangers of substance abuse, are some of the most important things we can do.”

The competition is supported by the Department of Health, the HSE, COSC, the Ana Liffey Drug Project, Healthy Ireland and Drugs.ie - Ireland’s National Drug and Alcohol Information and Support Website.

To enter, students are asked to create either: a short video, an audio clip, a news article; or a poster on one of the following themes: (a) The effects of alcohol on the family; (b) The effects of drugs on mental health. The age categories for entering are: 12-14; 15-17; 18-21; 22-25.

Winners from the four age categories will receive an iPad mini and the overall winner will receive a prize of €2,000. Winners will also have their work published on drugs.ie. The closing date for entries is February 16th 2015 and the awards ceremony will take place in April 2015.

Tony Duffin, director of the Ana Liffey Drug project said: “This competition offers participants the opportunity to creatively use digital tools to present issues relating to drug and alcohol use from their own perspective. The awards are a great opportunity to recognise and reward young people who are passionate about using digital content to relay their message. I am looking forward to seeing what messages are highlighted by the many entrants and I wish everyone the best of luck!”