News & events
Back to Home Office Drugs E-bulletinsDrugs E-bulletin - December 2008
Welcome to the December 2008 edition Home Office monthly drugs bulletin.
This e-bulletin includes:
- The 2009 FRANK Awards nomination deadline extended
- 2008 Tackling Drugs Changing Lives Awards winners announced
- Pablo and FRANK - the new cocaine campaign
The 2009 FRANK Awards nomination deadline extended
The FRANK awards are designed to recognise and reward individuals or organisations who have used the FRANK campaign to deliver effective communications, campaigns or materials.
This is a chance to highlight the projects and campaigns that have successfully raised awareness of drug issues and made an impact in the community by nominating them for a FRANK award. The deadline for nominations has now been extended to 31 January 2009.
Nominations are open in two categories:
- FRANK communications aimed at young people
- FRANK communications aimed at the wider community
Two awards will be given in each of the nine government regions in England and from these two overall category winners will then be selected. There is also a judges' award for the overall best use of FRANK.
For more information and to download a nomination form see the FRANK awards.
2008 Tackling Drugs, Changing Lives Awards - winners announced
The two overall winners of this year's Tackling Drugs Changing Lives Awards were announced by the Home Office Minister Alan Campbell at an awards ceremony in London.
Daniel Smyth from the Brent Centre for Young People in London was named Drug Worker of the Year 2008 for the intensive support he has given to 27 young men with challenging behaviour who use a variety of substances.
Family First in Middlesbrough were named Drug Team of the Year 2008 for their innovative and ground breaking work in helping children at risk due to parental substance misuse.
Home Office Minister Alan Campbell said, 'These awards celebrate the great contribution that dedicated and hard-working professionals and volunteers make in helping individuals overcome drug addiction, which in turn helps families and communities. Both winners demonstrate a commitment and determination that is making a real difference on the streets.
'Latest statistics show that overall drug use is now at its lowest level for ten years, clearly demonstrating our efforts to tackle drugs and get them off our streets are delivering results. But we continue to focus our efforts on reducing the harm caused by illegal drugs through enforcement, education and treatment.
'Working with the inspirational people I have met today, I am determined to create safer, stronger communities free from the menace of drug use'.
For more information, go to the Tackling Drugs Changing Lives Awards pages.
Pablo and FRANK - the new cocaine campaign
A new hard-hitting £1m TV and online FRANK advertising campaign which shows the dangers of cocaine has been unveiled by the government.
The campaign is centred on ‘Pablo the drug mule dog’, who died as he was being used to smuggle cocaine into the country. Waking from the dead, he goes on a mission to find out the truth about the risks and consequences of taking the drug. The adverts, which will launch on Channel 4, satellite channels and online are aimed at 15-18 year olds and signpost young people to the FRANK website (new window).
Home Office Minister Alan Campbell said, ‘The new hard-hitting adverts emphasise that the harms caused by cocaine can be wide-ranging. Taking cocaine can have serious consequences, legally and socially, as well as from a health and environmental point of view.’
'Young people need to be aware of the dangers and FRANK is the ideal messenger for this as an established and trusted service' he continued.
Health Minister Dawn Primarolo said, ‘There’s a darker side to using cocaine which this campaign exposes. Addiction, personality change and the risk of heart attacks – even at a young age – can ruin the health and lives of cocaine users and their families.’
FRANK has also launched a new cocaine explained action pack to help those working with young people to understand the complexity of issues surrounding cocaine and how they can link their work to the new campaign. Full of information, facts and statistics and activity ideas, it explains what the law says, why cocaine is a problem and the dangers associated with its use.
