Funded by North Tyneside Council, we are using a mixed participatory arts approach, with a community research lens, to gather young people’s insights into drugs and alcohol.
Diverse artists and producers, with lived experience, are connecting and collaborating with young people to:
- Examine drug misuse by young people in North Tyneside.
- Look at not only the reasons why young people may choose to misuse these substances, but the results and interventions that may follow this.
- Explore the messages that they might be receptive to (or not).
- Draw out and understand access to drugs (pipeline) and to treatment services.
We are working with youth organisations, schools, the local police and intervention agencies across North Tyneside.
#Never? digs deep into the reasons young people drink alcohol and take drugs by exploring solutions that may support a reduction in these activities.
The project encourages young people to understand the risks and impact drugs and alcohol misuse has on school attendance as well as getting under the skin of everyday challenges and issues which can contribute to the limited use of substances.
It seeks to better understand what young people see as opportunities which would promote their physical and mental wellbeing.
This work, especially the public and legacy outcomes, will hopefully contribute to young people achieving better physical and mental health by identifying difficulties and exposing everyday and ongoing support needs as well as exploring the role of support from healthcare and other care professionals in young people’s lives.
