VOLUNTEERS HAVE launched a campaign to warn young people over the online distribution of drugs.
Dunfermline Police Scotland Youth Volunteers (PSYV) have been working alongside partner agencies, Youthlink Scotland and Barnardo’s Substance Use Education Team, to produce Online High.
The campaign’s focus is on the distribution of substances using devices and to raise awareness of the consequences of both taking and supplying drugs.
It’s all part of a screen education programme called ‘On Trend’ where 20 youth volunteers between the ages of 13 and 18, highlight issues affecting communities.
Online High was launched on Tuesday, October 1, at the Odeon Cinema in Dunfermline. Volunteers, Police Scotland officers, and others came together to watch the film.
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Constable Scott Morgan, PSYV coordinator, said: “I’m so proud of the work these young people have put into this campaign and the fantastic material they’ve produced.
“We let the volunteers decide what they wanted to focus on, which issues affect young people the most, and this was one of their priorities.
“I think it’s really important we listen to the concerns of young people in our community and deliver messaging they can relate to in order to highlight the dangers.”
The initiative, which has already produced six campaigns, secured £32,000 of funding from Screen Scotland, Fife Council, Cashback for Communities and Carnegie Dunfermline Trust.
Macy Chatham, head youth volunteer, said: “We were really passionate about the topic of this campaign as it is an issue we see in the local area.
“Unfortunately, many of us have seen the devastating impact drugs have on our community and we wanted to warn other young people not to get caught up in it.
“We know social media can play a huge part in the distribution of drugs and with most of us having access to phones etc, it is something a lot of people might experience.
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“We hope the video and educational inputs in schools can really raise awareness and reduce drug related harm in schools and our communities.”
The video and education pack will be delivered in schools, youth groups, and community engagement settings.
Although Online High will be rolled out across the Fife area initially, it is hoped it will be adopted nationally.
Sharon Young, the senior practitioner (Substance Use Education Service for Barnardo’s in Fife, said: “Our team enjoyed working collaboratively with the young people from Dunfermline PSYV group over the past few months to support the development of the toolkit which accompanies their film.
“We believe these resources will help young people explore and understand the potential risks and consequences of illegal drug use, highlighting several aspects of the possible fallout for everyone involved – from the dealer and the buyer, to their friends, families and wider communities.”
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