DUBLIN 15 community group Greater Blanchardstown Response to Drugs (GBRD) is marking its 20th anniversary with a special
‘Endeavour
Award’ as part of the annual Let’s Talk About Drugs National Media Awards.
One of the
first aims of the GBRD, which was
set up back in 1992, was to provide drugs awareness courses to educate
individuals, families and groups about various drugs issues.
The
‘Let’s Talk
About Drugs’ National Media Awards 2012, supported by the County Dublin VEC and
the Health Service Executive/Drugs.ie, encourages members of the public to talk
about alcohol and drugs by creating original newspaper articles, cartoon
strips, audio features or video or animated features based around the official
themes.
The educational
initiative is open to students and adults in Ireland aged 12 and over and the
deadline for entries is next Friday, March 30. The GBRD Endeavour Award will be
to the value of e1,000, to coincide with its special anniversary year.
Among the
achievements of the GBRD in its 20 year history, is that it became the first
community initiative based around education, training and information on drug
issues in its area. The community-run organisation also assists in the
co-ordination for services of commemoration of hope for those who died from drug-related
causes, highlighting the lack of treatment facilities available.
A
“Drugs and
Community
? report was also launched by the Minister of State with
responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy, RóisÃn Shortall, at the
invitation of the GBRD.
This report by
Jennifer D’Arcy explores the nature and extent of drug use in the Greater
Blanchardstown area and was funded by the Blanchardstown Local Drug Task Force.
The GBRD have
also organised a series of information roadshows continuing to build a strong reputation
in drugs research and information.
Speaking about
the 20th anniversary of the Greater Blanchardstown Response to Drugs, Phillip
Keegan, Co-ordinator with GBRD said:
“The community organisation was originally
set up 20 years ago in response to a growing drug problem that was emerging
within communities.
“To mark our
20th anniversary, an endeavour award worth e1,000, will be presented to the
winner at this year’s
‘Let’s Talk About Drugs’ National Media Awards ceremony
in May.
?
Minister
Shortall will present the awards at the ceremony and Caroline Twohig from the
fyi television programme on 3e will also feature at the event. Phoenix FM and
the Dublin People Group are the media partners for this year’s competition.
Full details
for the Let’s Talk About Drugs National Media Awards 2012 competition are
available from www.gbrd.ie or by phoning 01-8262364. The official hashtag on
Twitter is #talkdrugs and the Facebook page is Let’s Talk About Drugs –
National Media Awards 2012.