Youth Work Connect – Drugs, Risk and Reality: Building Safer Responses with Young People

Young people are increasingly exposed to drugs, and youth work plays a critical role in helping them stay safe. This interactive online session explores what really works in practice, moving beyond fear-based approaches towards evidence informed, relationship-based harm reduction.

Our role is not simply prevention, it is reducing harm, supporting decision-making, and keeping young people safe in the reality they live in.

This interactive session brings the youth sector together to explore how we can support young people safely and realistically, using evidence-based approaches grounded in youth work principles.

Rather than focusing solely on prevention, this session will explore how we can: 

• Reduce harm and support informed decision-making 
• Respond to risk while maintaining relationships 
• Move beyond fear-based or one-off approaches 
• Build practical, consistent responses rooted in young peoples lived realities 

Participants will engage in discussion, shared reflection and case-based exploration, with opportunities to learn from sector expertise and peer practice

We will be joined at this Youth Work Connect by: