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This Sunday night young people in South Belfast will be challenged by people of their own age to make a promise not to do drugs. (23-11-97 Ulsterville Presbyterian Church, 139 Lisburn Road at 8.30pm.)
XTC has been organised by Presbyterian Churches in the area and will feature young people communicating to their peers the anti drug message through video, music, drama and direct talk.
'From using our most recent anti-drug video 'The Score' we know that an effective way to communicate is using peer education; people of the same age confronting one another with the rights and wrongs surrounding their activities,' explained Laurence Kerr, the Presbyterian Church's Drug Education Officer and event organiser. Many young people who have experienced drugs are now totally opposed to them and would see their Christian life as viable and attractive to everyone, especially drug uses. We devised this event to give them a platform to express their views.'
Typical are Pauline and Caroline, two teenage girls who have been involved in the drug scene in Dublin and who featured in 'The Score.' 'We are the fortunate ones who have escaped from the grasp of drugs. It is frightening how many people get sucked in to something then can't control and it takes over. There's a lot more to life than drugs can ever give you and even more so when you're a Christian. When we look back we see how screwed up we were.' As part of their presentation they will be asking those present to consider making a promise not to do drugs.
Also taking part will be Fred and Barbara Giles, the parents of Sharon Giles who tragically died after taking ecstasy in June 1995 and who since her death have been keen to support the anti-drug message.
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