The Drug Education Forum Spring event will take place online on Wednesday 5th March 2025 from 3.30 – 5.00pm
With ketamine very much on many people’s minds, we’re excited to welcome Dr Karenza Moore to our Spring event as our keynote speaker, sharing her research into some of the emerging trends, motivations, and harm reduction challenges specific to this substance. We also have three great spotlights to start the event off – Emma Crawshaw, Dr Cassie Ogden, Steve Duffy and Dr Karen Corteen – with a focus on drug checking and tackling stigma. All of our speakers will be involved in the panel discussion following presentations, with an opportunity for delegates to ask questions.
Optional break out rooms will be opened after the event from 17:00 – 17:30 to enable delegates
to stay on for informal discussions and networking with colleagues.
Registration: You can register your place at this free event here
Programme:
15:30 – 15:35 – Introduction
15:35 – 15:45 – Spotlight 1 – Emma Crawshaw, CEO Crew 2000 ‘Reagent Drug Checking Pilot at the University of Edinburgh Advice Place: harm reduction for more informed choices.’
15:45 – 15:55 – Spotlight 2 – Dr Cassie Ogden, Senior Lecturer and Joint Programme Leader in Sociology at Liverpool John Moores University ‘Choose Life Schools Evaluation Project: A Qualitative Evaluation of the Impact of the Choose Life Project Event On Pupils aged 12-14 years in schools In Wales and England.’
15:55 – 16:05 – Spotlight 3 – Steve Duffy MBE, Founder and Manager of the Choose Life Project & Dr Karen Corteen, Senior Lecturer in Criminal Justice, Liverpool John Moores ‘Changing Hearts and Minds Via a Choose Life Event: Key Findings from An Evaluation of University Student’s Perceptions of Substance Use and People Impacted By It.’
16:05 – 16:30 – Keynote by Dr Karenza Moore, Reader in Sociology, Newcastle University ‘Why Ketamine? Emerging trends, motivations, and harm reduction challenges.’
16:30 – 16:55 – Q&A and panel discussion with speakers
16:55 – 17:00 – Close and notices
17:00 – 17:30 – Breakout rooms for informal networking.
We believe that every young person in the UK should have access to excellent, evidence-based, age-appropriate drug education, to enable them to make choices about drugs that are informed, independent and will prevent or reduce risk and harm.