6th International Drugs and Young People Conference

The 6th International Conference in Drugs and Young People will explore the impact of drug use on young people and how youth related problems can be tackled by various human service fields.

The theme 'Making the Connections’ reflects a number of important issues: understanding the complexity and interaction of factors which influence and impact on young people lives; the opportunity for diverse sectors to meet and exchange knowledge and expertise; and translating research into practice. The theme also refers to the growing importance of social media and technology in young peoples’ lives today and its potential role. Another major focus of the conference will be to recognise and celebrate the role that young people themselves are playing in addressing drug use in the community. Click here for more information about the programme of the conference.

The New Zealand Drug Foundation will be hosting Aram Barra to the conference. Aram Barra, the Latin American and Caribbean representative of Youth R.I.S.E. (a global network of young people working on drug policy) will give a youth perspective on drug policy and where it needs to head, in a key note presentation entitled 'If it is all about prohibition, you can count me out - Young people leading the drug policy revolution'. Aram will also deliver a workshop during the conference on this topic.

In another session, 'Youth Leadership in Action', the work of young people from different disciplines countries and communities will be featured. This will include:

• The Tiny Toones program from Cambodia will report on their use of creative tools including break dancing and rapping to empower youth and prevent drug use.
• Chris Raine, creator of the Hello Sunday Morning campaign will show how social media can be used as a powerful tool for change.
• Researcher Vanessa Kennedy of the Australian Drug Foundation will report on her research into the meaning that the FebFast campaign has for young participants.

Following the conference the New Zealand Drug Foundation is sponsoring Aram Barra to New Zealand to run two one-day workshops. The workshops will run in Auckland and Wellington and will keep a focus in line with drug policy reforms, this is very timely as New Zealand is currently reviewing its Misuse of Drugs Act which includes some significant reforms that will affect young people in New Zealand.