The competition is primarily aimed at secondary schools, colleges and youth clubs nationwide and is supported by the Department of Health, the HSE, the Ana Liffey Drug Project, Healthy Ireland and the Drugs.ie website. Drugs.ie is Ireland's National Drug and Alcohol Information and Support Website. The drugs.ie site has in excess of 120,000 unique Irish visitors each year and over 500,000 international visitors.

This annual drugs educational competition aims to help students explore and understand various issues relating to drug and alcohol use in Irish society. To enter, students are asked to research topics or share their personal experiences and create either: a short video, an audio podcast, a news article; or a poster on one of the following themes:

(a) Why do some young people take drugs?

(b) What impact does alcohol have on relationships? 

The age categories for entering are: 12-14; 15-17; 18-21; 22-25.

By getting involved, students can explore the issue of drugs and alcohol from a constructionist learning experience. This type of learning can have a more meaningful impact on their own understanding of the issues.

In turn, schools can take a proactive and innovative approach to raising awareness and understanding of the issues; issues that affect the lives of many young people in Ireland. On this basis, we are asking all schools to encourage students to enter - as individual entrants - or as a group project.

Winners from the four age categories will receive an iPad mini and the overall winner will receive a prize of €2,000.  Winners will also have their work published on drugs.ie. Closing date for entries is the 1st February 2017.

Futher information, recommended research sites and examples of previous winners can be found at www.drugs.ie/awards

Download poster for classroom.