Angelus Launches New Web Film on Ketamine for Advisory Council (ACMD) Report
LONDON, December 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --
The Angelus Foundation today launched a new film at the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) press briefing on the harms of ketamine. The film can be viewed on Angelus's website for young people, http://www.whynotfindout.org/videos.shtml. Angelus was invited to produce the film for the event by Prof Les Iversen, Chair of ACMD.
The film is presented by stand-up comic Jeff Leach and highlights some of the serious harms from ketamine such as bladder and kidney damage, risk of overdose and memory loss. It includes details of the tragic death of Louise Cattell who drowned in a bath after taking it in 2010. There are interviews with former regular users Chris and Olivia, whose experiences demonstrate the destructive physical effects of regular use of ketamine.
Angelus is the lead charity dedicated to raising awareness of legal highs and club drugs such as ketamine. Angelus is also helping to address the concerns of parents by issuing the free handbook 'Talking to your Children about legal highs and club drugs', in partnership with the charity Adfam and the Club Drug Clinic.
The founder of Angelus, Maryon Stewart, said: "Our new film highlights the huge risk young people are taking with ketamine, sometimes with their lives. We can't stop young people experimenting with substances but with reliable information on the risks, they can make a better choice and stay safe. The testimony in the new Angelus film on ketamine shows its potential to devastate families. Angelus has now become a vital resource of information for young people and parents to learn about substances like ketamine."
Vicky Unwin, Louise Cattell's mother and Angelus Ambassador, said, "I believe the single most important thing the Government can do is to introduce compulsory drug education into schools so that young people can learn from an early age about the potential risks of taking ketamine, not only to their health, but also to their lives."
Notes to Editors:
- The author and broadcaster Maryon Stewart lost her 21-year-old daughter, Hester, to GBL in 2009 and established the Angelus Foundation. It is the only drugs charity dedicated to combating legal highs and club drugs and today launches a brand new film for young people on its website http://www.whynotfindout.org.There is also a site for families http://www.angelusfoundation.com/parents/
- The new film is on the Angelus website http://www.whynotfindout.org/videos.shtml. Angelus has no formal relationship with ACMD.
- The Angelus parents booklet, produced in partnership with Adfam and the Club Drug Clinic sets out the context of legal highs and how to hold conversations with young people about them. A Mentor survey showed 58% of 11-15 year olds looked to their parents for advice on drug matters. It can be downloaded for free at http://www.angelusfoundation.org/parents.
If you wish to interview Maryon Stewart, please contact:
Aimee Gentry at the Angelus Foundation on:
T: +44(0)8451771070
E: aimeegentry@angelusfoundation.com or contact@angelusfoundation.com
http://www.angelusfoundation.com
Twitter: @angelustweets
http://www.whynotfindout.org
Twitter: @whynotfindout
The Angelus Foundation is a UK registered charity
Registered in England and Wales no. 1139830
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