Using scare tactics to discourage drug use can be very appealing for family members & schools who are…well…scared.

On a daily basis the YoDAA team receives calls for family members, schools, or even youth workers who are searching for a professional fear monger who will provide a life altering lesson for a young person they care about.

This professional will preferably be young and have used substances. World weary, tough talking and with a couple of jail tatts to add credibility to their message.  This reformed substance user will speak to their sports club, school group or child about the unspeakable horrors of substance use in such a way, that they will be forever scared – and be a lot safer for it.

YoDAA even gets the occasional contact from professional speakers who offer their own experience to such groups as a lesson learned. Some of these speakers offer rich insights and a balanced, accurate portrayal of the choices they made and provide encouragement and inspiration to young people. Others focus on the harms and minimise the factors that led them to make the choices in the first place, presenting substance use as a moral weakness or poor choice.

This is a problematic approach for young people who may already be using substances or who have tried them and remain unscathed.

It is also a missed opportunity.

The YoDAA team believes anyone who cares enough to engage and respect young people, can have an impact on their substance use. It is for this reason that we encourage our callers to consider what it is they hope to achieve through scare tactics and alternate approaches.