ROdown Blog
Come talk about drugs
Hey all
I’m Kitty a Research and Evaluation coordinator for ReachOut which basically means I sit in the background, watching reading and writing.
Some of you might have seen me around attempting to lure...ah...I mean...'recruit' for surveys, focus groups or interviews but this blog is more about the writing side of things and in particular POLICY.
We here at Reach Out are not only obsessed with collecting all sorts of information to help inform our programs, but also like to use this information to bug governments and other organisations with ideas for how technology can be used to help young people through tough times (or hang out or whatever you’ve come to Reach Out for:) in an attempt to change their ways.
“Why the hell are you telling us this you policy wonk?” I hear you ask...
WELL it’s about time we worked out a better way of helping YOU tell governments and other organisations what you think!
“How the hell are you going to do that?” Oh yee of little faith...
Right now we’re preparing a submission for the Australian Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy consultation and we want to get your feedback on two sections:
- How the internet and technology can be used to implement the strategy.
- What other issues need to be thought about when implementing a drug strategy for young people (see Glossary for policy wonk terms below).
YAWN! Yeah...I don’t blame you but...
Put another way we want you to tell us:
- How you think the government, organisations and health services (aka other policy wonks, CEOs in suits and people in white coats with stethoscopes) can use technology to minimise the harms of drugs and alcohol for young people.
- What else is going on in the lives of young people that might make those 'drugs are bad mkay' lessons at school well, pretty much useless.
So tell us what you think or just check out what other people are saying about drugs and technology and government and life and stuff below!
I’ll be lurking about over the next couple of weeks reading your stuff and maybe asking for clarification or prompting you with questions.
See you all in nerdsville,
Kitty
PS For more information, whether it be on advocacy and policy submissions, the National Drug Strategy and this consultation, or any other questions, post a comment or send me an email (kitty@inspire.org.au).
Glossary of stupid terms policy people use:
- Policy – a statement about why, what and how something should be done.
- Submission – a formal way of turning a policy statement into a long rant.
- Ministerial Council – bunch of governmenty-professionally people put together to solve a problem (or in many cases talk about the talks needed to start talking about the problem).
- Strategy – ridiculously long document on what the talkers talked about and what to do with that talk.
- Consultation – an invitation for lots of people to send in their rants to the talkers.
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10 Comments
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MissusK
over 1 year ago
Reply ReportI think maybe the more information on the good the bad and the ugly with drugs. Make it informative n fun cos really I know if Im bored I switch off, just like most people.
I think the worst thing about some so called helpful sites dont tell the full story ok people take drugs it ruins theyre life eg. lose money, lose loved ones, lose lives. But what about the details on the bad stuff .... I never knew you could end up Cyclic vomiting from smoking too much cannibus ... did any of you???
It's like we're only told certain points ... and not the whole story is being told. I mean you search online for cannibus and information on cannibus and I know for certain you will get more sites for cannibus use than against it.
just my thoughts Cheers
Ophelia.L
about 2 years ago
Reply ReportThis is interesting. I think there should be documentaries of young people who have experienced taking drugs & alcohol and have recovered from it.
Kitty @Inspire
about 2 years ago
Reply ReportHeya
Once again thanks heaps! Really enlightening stuff! I know it sounds ridiculous being in R&P & all those reports I read - & yes Chey I too find them incredibly boring:) - but it so good to hear it from you guys & just the way your so open & honest about it really gives the details that are so neglected in policy & reports.
@Chey - I agree with you that while online spaces can be a great way to get people connected & talking about an issue sometimes that talking ain't exactly constructive so moderation is really important.
@Alphabet - what you said about scare campaigns being to easy to distance yourself from is really interesting. And that is a really cool looking site (but I really must be getting old cos those kids look like 10:)
Make sure you come back if you think of anything else & be sure to get some others in hear to talk up a storm:)
Cheers again
Kitty
Alphabet
about 2 years ago
Reply ReportIm not sure where id look for information or if i read something whether or not i'd trust what it says especially if the website that offerred information was pretty much saying ' dont drink too much..dont do drugs' if that was the message they were trying to promote id be less likely to take anything away from the website because id think they are just trying to scare me or put me off it. Betweens the Lines is a good example of something neutral and gives you the option of making an informed choice for yourself.
Chey
about 2 years ago
Reply Reporthttp://karinhearn.com/images/gurd.jpg
His names Gurd(Drug spelt backwards)
Chey
about 2 years ago
Reply Report@Kitty,Hey there hope you are well.
(I dont mind you using this in your submission you have my Permission)
I guess who never really know wether to trust the info or not tbh,some things on the net arent exactly true tbh so yer,I guess you have to believe in what your reading really....(can be dangerous if your reading misleading info).I guess for Me I got to forums etc on diffrent topics that way i can read what other people say,I hate reading like report shit on it all where they use big words it bores me no offense.I think bright colors attract me something that appeals to youth tbh i hate going to pages which a grey or dull colored it turns me off pretty quickly...
As for the interaction yerp I think games would work,instead of just having people sit n listen to talk blah get them up doing stuff,in schools break them into groups get them doing short skits(plays) on drug use,or playing games, talking about how to look after someone who may of had a reaction to drugs,get people to shout out no etc just make it more Youth Appropriate.
Btw what ever happend to kid with the orange hair and his two mates they had in primary school I think his name started with G they use to hand out waterbottles,shirts,tattoos etc now that would be good to have in highschool on a high school level.
As for the online thing,yes and no,Reachout I believe does it in a safe way,but some other sites may actually do the oppostite you maybe looking to get of drugs or find reasons not to take them and people on the forums could be giving you reasons to,I think sites need to be moderated more......
Kitty @Inspire
about 2 years ago
Reply ReportThanks so much for your comments! Both really interesting & very useful!
Forgot to say we’d love to include quotes like these in the submission if it’s alright with you all? We’ll make sure you can’t be identified & you’ll be able to check it before its sent off. If it’s not ok just let us know & we’ll keep it out.
@Chey - you're right on the money re: internet not always being good for the issue of drugs & alcohol. The Ministerial Council gives a few examples of how the internet is creating even more challenges for dealing with the issue one of which is information on potency, availability, effects etc can be inaccurate & misleading.
Do you guys agree with this? Where would you look for this sort of information & how would you know you can trust it?
Also interesting see you both mentioned the internet as good for information on how to say no. Consultation paper doesn’t even mention it so we’ll certainly be adding that in.
@Alphabet – so that’s what all those little bits of paper were!
Why do you think it is that scare campaigns don’t work? What’s your first reaction to them?
Also like the idea of making information more interactive. Can you give us some examples of what you mean by this? Like are you talking games or discussions (e.g. like this blog or ReachOut’s factsheets?) or something else?
Speaking of interactive...you’ve mentioned how the internet is good for getting information but do you all think about online communities set up for people to talk about this stuff in a constructive way? Do you think it helps being able to talk to people like you who are looking for the same information & trying to make the same sort of decisions? Why or why not?
Ok so that was little longer than I expected & full of questions but as I said we’re totally mining your expertise to give as much information to the big wigs as possible:)
Cheer’s & see you soon, Kitty
Chey
about 2 years ago
Reply Report@Alphabet,I must be a nerdy or something cause when doctors give me medicine i dont know about it i do read up on it,cause sometimes doctors forget to tell you that the medicine they just gave you means the other ones your on wont work....but yer Im with you If I dont have to read it I wont,in the bin it goes,thats where most of my stuff from school lectures went tbh,Id rather see a add on tv about it than be given a peice of paper tbh...
I have mates who knew that girl who passed away last yr its really really sad though that some people just go back and do the same knowing the consequences of it all,I guess everyone thinks their invisble once in their life time though or they want to be cool or experiement.....
Alphabet
about 2 years ago
Reply ReportFor the first one something interactive. Information is boring. I know i wont read sheets of information, im simply too lazy unless i have to. Its kind of like prescription medication info sheets you get with them, i dont read them i just take whatever im told and hope i dont suffer side effects. I guess i could apply that to drugs and alcohol if i ever chose to go that way. Id doubt id read up on it, id just hope for the best. A focus on how to say no especially with friends or asking for help is ok if under the influence is more likely to sink into peoples minds rather than be responsible or dont take drugs.
Chey
about 2 years ago
Reply ReportHey There :) :),
I firstly like to state that sometimes the net is a bad thing when it comes to drugs etc(people use net to create publicy for raves etc whic drugs are sold at).........but alot of the time its good to teens well for people I know anyway cause it offers information on how to help someone who's taking drugs,how to say no to drugs and much more.
As for the drugs talks at school,DONT BUMBARD US WITH A LECTURE which puts us to sleep and use big terms we dont care about,like mix it up with serious and a few cartoon videos or something.I know they did that for a lecture they had on something at our school and kids got more out of it.....