The Department of Health has launched its 2012 Festive Season Health Campaign. The theme of the 2012 campaign builds on from last year’s programme - ‘It’s up to me where to draw the line’ - again with the support of the Island’s young people. The Public Health Directorate and partner agencies are supporting the campaign, which aims to raise awareness amongst young people and their parents of the risks associated with alcohol misuse and risk-taking behaviour. In particular, it deals with unsupervised ‘house parties’, where alcohol is a key feature leading to some young people engaging in risky behaviours where the outcomes could be severe.
Minister for Health, David Anderson MHK, said, “I am delighted to see that young people continue to have input into the development of this important annual campaign. The aim is to draw attention to the issues associated with alcohol misuse. We want everyone, including young people, to enjoy the festive atmosphere and ensure that they and their friends have a safe night out.”
The campaign will encourage young people to visit the Crash Test Tim website www.crashtest.im which provides anonymous help and advice on drugs, sexual health, and alcohol in the Isle of Man. There is also a section on house parties, which features interviews with the Police and young people, has advice for hosting a safer house party, and articles from parents who have had to deal with the aftermath of a party that has gone wrong.
Dr Kishore, Director of Public Health, said: “The festive season is a time for everyone to relax and enjoy; however, there is a serious risk of the festive celebrations getting out of control, often leading to excessive alcohol consumption. The consequences of this could be so serious as to damage a young person’s life for several years, or even for the rest of their lives. So the message is to please take responsibility and enjoy the festive season in a responsible way.”
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