Young people and substance misuse in a digital age

TO highlight its annual Drug and Alcohol Awareness Week, the Western Region Drug & Alcohol Task Force (WRDATF) will hold a regional conference in the Clayton Hotel, Ballybrit, Galway, tomorrow (Tuesday).

This innovate conference ‘Young People and Substance Misuse in a Digital Age’ will explore the complex issue of young people and substance use in a modern technological era.

The WRDATF is one of ten Regional Drug Task Forces in Ireland that was set up in 2003 on foot of recommendations from the National Drugs Strategy (NDS), to facilitate a more effective response to the drugs problem in areas experiencing the highest levels of substance misuse and involve those directly affected by the problem in the development of an area based drug strategy.

In late 2013 following the recommendations of the Steering Group Report on the National Substance Misuse Strategy, Alcohol was incorporated into the remit of Local and Regional Drug Task Forces.

As an appropriate response to the ever changing landscape from a drug & alcohol perspective this WRDATF conference will examine what challenges young people face in this digital age and how best to respond to these new challenges.

The conference will directly discuss themes including; Emerging trends in the illicit drugs market; Adolescent Alcohol Use in the Digital Environment; Benzos and teenagers, and rethinking responses to cannabis use.

Coordinator of the WRDATF Mr Michéal Durcan said: “We are excited to hold a major conference examining young people’s drug and alcohol use and its relationship with social media. Social media has created a very different world for today’s teenagers than teens from even one generation ago.

“We hope this conference will enlighten the WRDATF in understanding the challenges we face in supporting younger people in this digital age. ”

The conference will be chaired by Dr Catherine Anne Field and speakers at the event include Philip James, Clinical Nurse Specialist in Adolescent Substance Use, Ms Kathy Ann Fox, NUIG, Community Addiction Counsellor Karl O’Brien, Dr Bobby Smyth, Consultant Youth and Adolescent Psychiatrist. Jimmy McGovern, Union of Students of Ireland (USI).

Additionally, the WRDATF New Regional Strategic Plan 2017-2020 will be presented by Ms Sinead Doody, Doody Consultancy.

Ms Deirdre Hurney, chairperson of the WRDATF added: “Young people’s relationship with substances is ever changing in the world we live in. We aim to highlight the every complex issues of substance use in a changing market where use of social media, online advertising and purchasing are now common place.

"We are particularly keen to use this conference to explore the range of topics been discussed by very experienced practitioners.”

Enquiries regarding the event can be made to the WRDATF on 091 480044 or places can be booked directly on www.eventbrite.ie