Alcohol & Drugs Peer Research Project
Understanding young people's perceptions of alcohol and drug culture
The Alcohol and other Drugs project ran from July 2022 to October 2023, the aim of this project was to understand young people’s perceptions of alcohol and other drug culture. The aim of the research was not to ask what young people were taking but to understand why a young person would choose to use alcohol or drugs.
Approximately 215 young people have been involved in providing responses.
Ideas for change suggested by young people to improve Shetlands alcohol and drug culture:
- Change is needed to normalise asking for help and to reduce stigma
- More access to diverse ranges of support and education to reduce the appeal of alcohol and other drugs
- The need for diverse opportunities to provide more choices for young people and the need for positive mentors to model these lifestyle choices
- Open and honest conversations in families, relationships and communities
The alcohol and other drugs project was concluded in October 2023, with the findings being shared with young people and our volunteers before we shared the findings with strategic partners:
- Shetland Alcohol & Drugs Forum
- Shetland Children's Partnership
- Senior Management Team at Anderson High School
- Senior Management Team Children’s Services
Participative Democracy Certificate
Two members of the Peer Research team completed their participatory democracy certificate by conducting their own pieces of research that fed into the final report. One volunteer circulated a digital survey with their peers, and another volunteer made a question box where they asked their peers to take a piece of paper with a question on it and post their answers in the box.
Alcohol and other Drugs working group
A live working group is being set up to action the ideas for change that came from the alcohol and other drugs project.
Denise Morgan Chief Social Work Officer approached OPEN to set up a live working group made up of young people and key stakeholders. The aim of this group is to support and create change within Shetlands alcohol and other drug culture guided by the priorities from the alcohol and other drugs project. This is valuable partnership work, even more so as this method is innovative, working equitably between young people and professionals to create the conditions to improve Shetland culture.
Ideas Fund and the Community Knowledge Matters Network
OPEN works in partnership within the Ideas fund and Community Knowledge Matters networks, including:
- Steering group
- Participatory ethics working group
- Co-priority survey working group
- Community of practice
The Ideas Fund Published a Q & A interview with OPEN's Peer Research Development Worker on how community research is improving understanding of youth mental health in Shetland.
OPEN's Peer Researcher has written blogs for YouthLink Scotland and the Social Research Association.
Aspirations, Interests and Creative Pursuits
OPEN's board of young people are an integral part of Peer Research Teams operating as sub groups of the board. In January 2024, the board decided that the next peer research project should be on young people’s “Aspirations, Interests and Creative Pursuits” based on OPEN’s previous research initiatives.
The purpose of this project is to understand what opportunities young people in Shetland feel would enrich their lives if they were available in Shetland.
The research methods the Peer Research team are using for this project to date are:
- Interviews
- Rich Picture Focus Groups
- Focus Groups - traditional format
The Aspirations, Interests and Creative Pursuits Peer Research Team currently has seven members. The Peer Research Team’s role is to guide the projects direction, conduct independent research as well as opportunities to note take in Focus Groups. The Peer Research Team helps analyse the findings and feed into the final report with any independent research they have undertaken.
This contributes to Shetland Partnership’s ‘People’ and ‘Participation’ priorities, with partners and communities working together in decision making and service delivery, including identifying and involving those who do not often have their voices heard. Partners are prioritising prevention and working with communities to provide innovative solutions to the issues they face.