Students star in anti-drugs movie

TEN students have become overnight stars of the screen as part of a novel initiative to highlight the dangers of drug abuse.

The teenagers are members of the cast of a short film entitled Take Your Mind Off Your Troubles, the brainchild of the County Waterford Community Drugs Initiative.

The film will be used as an educational resource for teachers and youth leaders throughout the county.

Filmed and set in Dungarvan, the 10-minute film tells the story of a 16-year-old girl who experiments with drugs after being dumped by her boyfriend. Intended to promote drug awareness among young people, the DVD is now being distributed as a resource for schools, community and youth projects throughout the county.

Directed by Tramore-based filmmaker Paul Lynch and produced by Ruth Bennett, the film aims to tell young people that the use of drugs doesn’t help them to deal with problems they encounter.

Along with the County Waterford Community Drugs Initiative (CWCDI), a number of other organisations have had a direct and important input into the production of the film.

Paul Mullen of the CWCDI said the real impact of the DVD will be after it has been switched off. “It’s the discussion that will follow that will bring up the issues and the problems that young people are having and that’s where the learning will be’, he said.

Mr Mullen said a worrying trend is emerging in Waterford in relation to drugs, and particularly worrying is the evidence of the amount of cocaine use. The hope is that this short film will firmly drive home the message to young people that there is no future in drug use and abuse.

The film has been praised by the mayors of County Waterford and Dungarvan, Ger Barron and Fiachra O’Ceilleachair.