A mobile phone application, that aims to raise awareness about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse was launched by a group of teenagers from Carterton Community College last week.
Year 13 pupils studying for their IT GCSEs were asked last December to put their brains together to come up with an ‘app’ that could be used to help reduce the harm caused by recreational drugs across the county.
Working together with Oxfordshire's drug and alcohol action team (DAAT), e-designers Tecmark and animators Kilogramme, the students came up with an animated game called Spike's House Party, which they officially launched last Thursday.
Once downloaded onto an iphone or Android, players find themselves in control of Spike, a purple porcupine who must be manoeuvred through a house party while avoiding pills, powders and alcohol. If Spike consumes too many drugs or drinks, the player witnesses the damaging consequences and loses health points.
Pupil Sam Wright, 15, said: “I think it is great that we have made an app. For me personally, it is great to help out with awareness.”
Lewis Protheroe, 15, said: “There are lots of young people doing drugs and this will teach them about the consequences and the bad effects of doing drugs and also drinking too much.”
Teide Barrett, 15, said: “The app is good for kids to just realise that this is what can actually happen.”
Pasquale Brammer, partnerships coordinator for Oxfordshire DAAT, said the app was particularly important following three ketamine-related deaths in the county.
“This is a big thing for us,” she said. “It is massively important to have the help and feedback from young people who aren't necessarily involved in drugs. We couldn't have done it without them.
“It's really so important people understand the risks of recreational drug use. These chemicals do massive harm to both users and those around them.
“These games utilise new social media to get messages across and to make people stop and think. They are funny enjoyable games with very serious messages.”
Jo Melling, director Oxfordshire DAAT, said: “It is vital that we keep looking at innovative ways to get across crucial health messages. The app Spike's House Party has been designed with young people and it is aimed at getting this important message to the right audience in an inventive way.”
The app is now available for download on Android phones and will be available for iphones in the next few weeks. The pupils, along with assistant headteacher Ed Brodhurst hope to celebrate when the iphone app goes live, with a launch on Facebook and Twitter. You can download the app on your Android phone by searching for Spike's House Party.
