As kids get older, they often start to question the life lessons they hear from parents and teachers. They become more heavily influenced by the things they see on social media, the internet and TV. Teenagers listen to what their peers say, and they pay attention to what celebrity role models do. As a result, they get mixed messages, and they have to determine which information to believe.
In this session Liam Watson, Director of Drugstraining.com, will provide a fascinating overview of the increasing role of Snapchat and Instagram in the buying and selling of drugs, which drugs are now popular with teenagers and how parents educate their children about substance use.
Drugstraining.com
Liam has extensive experience in the drugs field and has been responsible for the development and implementation of a range of initiatives with drugs services, local authorities, police drugs squads, youth services, schools and NHS professionals. He was Chair of the Welsh Forum of Drug Education Specialists for five years and a Visiting Lecturer at the Department of Health and Social Care at the University of The West of England in Bristol.
While working at the University of Wales College of Medicine Liam was the author of "Helping Patients Quit: Guidelines for GPs". Previously he carried out research into the belief and perceptions of recreational Ecstasy users. The findings of the study, entitled "Coming Up On Ecstasy' were presented at the International Health Promotion Conference, organised by the World Health Organisation.
Liam has worked as a Consultant for DrugScope, Addaction, Welsh Government, Derbyshire Drug Action Team and NACRO. He currently sits on the 'New Psychoactives' sub group of APOSM. He presented on the theme of online drugs marketplaces at the recent Club Health Conference in Prague.