Administrative Office

‘Let’s Talk About Drugs’

Posted on by Donegal ETB
11
Nov

The 2016 Drugs.ie “Let’s Talk about Drugs” National Youth Media Awards was officially launched in the Department of Education Clock Tower Building.. Last years event was launched by Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar, T.D. This year Miriam O’Callaghan from RTE will be the guest of honour at the launch.

The awards are primarily aimed at secondary schools and colleges nationwide and are supported by the Department of Health, the HSE, COSC, the Ana Liffey Drug Project, Healthy Ireland and the Drugs.ie website. Drugs.ie is Ireland’s National Drug and Alcohol Information and Support Website. The drugs.ie site has in excess of 120,000 unique Irish visitors each year and over 500,000 international visitors.MediaAwardsWinLogoTweet

This annual drugs education competition aims to help students explore and understand various issues relating to drug and alcohol use in Irish society. To enter, students are asked to create either: a short video, an audio podcast, a news article; or a poster on one of the following themes:

  • The hidden harm of alcohol use;
  • The effects of drug use.

The age categories for entering are: 12-14; 15-17; 18-21; 22-25.

By getting involved, students can explore the issue of drugs and alcohol from a constructionist learning experience. This can have a more meaningful impact on their own understanding of the issues – as this type of learning experience is effective when people are also active in making tangible objects in the real world.

In turn, schools can take a proactive and innovative approach to raising awareness and understanding of the issues; issues that affect the lives of many young people in Ireland. On this basis, we are asking all teachers to encourage students to enter – as individual entrants – or as a group project.

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 Friday 22nd of January 2016. It is expected that the awards ceremony will take place in April 2016.

Please find a poster enclosed for your schools notice board. We would be very grateful if you could display the poster and encourage students to take part this year.

For more information contact (01) 960 3010 or at awards@drugs.ie.

You will find examples of previous winners and full competition details at www.drugs.ie/awards.

Download information leaflet here.