Shrugs to Drugs

Raise money for charity Raise awareness of drugs and addiction issues. To help those affection by drugs and addiction To provide education around these topics.

Our Social Issue

The issue of Drugs and addiction

Why We Chose It

We recognized that drug use was an increasingly concerning issue in our country, especially within our age group and in our area, and there is evidence to back this up; Research shows, that after North Dublin, the Southeast Region of Ireland is the area that is worst affected by the use and sale of drugs. We recognized the negative impacts that addiction has on the drug users and their families and friends. We wanted to raise awareness about this, and potentially decrease the amount of people in our age group potentially becoming addicted, either now or in the future.

Our Goal

We aim to raise awareness about drug and substance abuse, misuse, reliance, and addiction, especially in the younger generation. We recognized that drug use was an increasingly concerning issue in our country, especially within our age group and in our area. We recognized the negative impacts that addiction has on the drug users and their families and friends. We wanted to raise awareness about this, and potentially decrease the amount of people in our age group potentially becoming addicted, either now or in the future.

Our Innovative Action

We orchestrated a collection for Wexford People Helping People, a local charity that helps people who suffer from drug related and other issues. Some students developed an educational program regarding addiction and awareness of drug use and addiction and presented it to Junior Classes. We conducted an online survey with students in our school to find out our peers’ relationship with drugs and their knowledge of addiction. We invited a guest speaker, Mr. John Lonergan, who was the director of Mountjoy Prison, and who has a lot of experience with drug-related crime, and the dangers of addiction.

Our Impact

We hope that by raising more awareness, and providing people with factual information, we have made a positive difference by changing people's knowledge and relationship with drugs. We hope that we have help younger people to develop a more informed opinion of drugs, substance abuse and addiction.