Digital event extends reach of Choices For Life message in schools

11th November 2011

Hundreds of primary and secondary school pupils from the Highlands and Islands will this week take part in an online event designed to encourage young people to make positive decisions around substance misuse.

Choices for Life online will be broadcast on Glow, Scotland's intranet for schools, on Monday 14 and Tuesday 15 November and will be available to over 2,600 primary and secondary schools across Scotland.

It marks the first time that Choices for Life has been delivered in an online format using Glow, and introduces the programme to pupils at secondary school.

The online event has been designed for pupils in Primary 7 through to S6 to provide them with the facts on alcohol, drugs and tobacco to help them make informed, positive lifestyle choices and to resist peer pressure.

A mix of live and pre-recorded content that explores the issues will be broadcast to schools, and pupils will be able to interact with the programme by asking questions and posting comments during the event through the Glow chat system.

The programme includes specially recorded music performances and live interviews from a number of artists, including indie acts Pearl and The Puppets and Finding Albert, singer/songwriter Carrie Mac, Scottish R&B singer Emeli Sande, boy band GMD 3 and chart-toppers The Wanted.

There will also be a live question and answer session with a guest panel including Accident & Emergency consultant Dr Peter Armstrong from Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary, Gregor Urquhart from Young Scot, Professor Susan Deacon from Edinburgh University and Katie Donald from Young Scot¿s Youth Commission on Alcohol.

Inspector Tom Ogilvie, Northern Constabulary's drugs and alcohol co-ordinator said: "This is the first time Glow will have been used to deliver Choices for Life in an online format directly into schools, which means that all schools in the Highlands and Islands can benefit from the excellent messages contained within the Choices for Life programme.

"The programme has also been extended for secondary schools with tailored content for different age groups to ensure it reflects the decisions and the peer pressure they are likely to face as they grow up.

"By changing the format and developing content, the organisers are creating a more inclusive, engaging and sustainable way of delivering substance misuse education, and we hope that many more young people will benefit from the wealth of information as the online programme continues to develop in future."

Detective Inspector Tommy Crombie, national drugs coordinator at the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency (SCDEA) is responsible for organising the event.

He said: "Choices for Life is an integral part of our interventions approach to reducing the demand for the products of serious organised crime through education and awareness.

"It's crucial that young people are empowered to think for themselves. Through the use of real life stories, thought provoking drama and positive role models, we show young people the consequences of risky behaviour and encourage them to make positive lifestyle decisions."

The new Choices for Life online programme has been designed by the SCDEA in collaboration with Education Scotland, and supports the objectives of Curriculum for Excellence. It is funded by the Scottish Government.