Image source: Wirral Council
Wirral Council has launched two digital platforms to help people from ethnic minority backgrounds find support in dealing with problems with drug or alcohol use.
Drug Talk and the Wirral Multicultural Organisation (WMO) Digital Hub are focused on supporting people for whom English is not their first language.
The council said the Drug Talk platform has been co-designed with people from ethnic minorities and contains ‘harm reduction’ information about a range of drugs and alcohol including health risks and laws, as well as street names for each substance.
Its key features include the Recite tool, which can translate more than 100 languages via text or audio, and non-stigmatising language that is culturally and religiously sensitive. It also provides information on drugs and the law relevant to asylum seekers, refugees or migrants.
Barriers to help
Cllr Jean Robinson, chair of Wirral’s health and wellbeing board, said: “People from ethnic minorities backgrounds do not take more drugs than other people – in many instances, they take fewer drugs. However, factors including discrimination, cultural norms and poor knowledge about local services can be barriers to help and advice.
“Drug Talk is a powerful education resource for residents from ethnic backgrounds who may wish to access the same services available as their neighbours – but may struggle due to various barriers.”
The WMO Digital Hub has been redesigned to help the multilingual community access resources related to health and wellbeing and harm reduction.
It will host a range of information for residents, partners and frontline professionals, including translated printable resources to make support and guidance accessible to everyone. It will also signpost people to the Drug Talk website for advice and guidance in more than 100 languages.
The hub has been funded by Merseyside Police’s Project ADDER, a programme which supports and steers people away from a life of taking drugs.
Language preference
Aline Macready, CEO for Wirral Multicultural Organisation, said: "We’re excited that our experience and expertise have resulted in developing the websites. This will enable people from ethnic minority backgrounds to access support, services and information in their preferred language."
Both websites have been reviewed at stages of development with the Wirral Combatting Drugs Partnership and includes key representatives from Merseyside Police’s Project ADDER initiative.
