TEENAGERS IN STARRING ROLE IN DRUG ABUSE FIGHT

A SHORT film about a group of Belfast teenagers was today launched as
a youth education video aimed at dealing with teenage drug and alcohol
abuse.

The video and workbook package has been based on the locally-produced
film 'Ciderpunks,' a tale of a Belfast teenage girl with a passion for
nihilism and body piercing.

The film, directed by Belgian-born Joel Simon, features Radio One's
Mark Radcliffe and local stars Nuala McKeever and Colin Murphy.

The workbook has been produced by members of the Northern Ireland
Youth Forum and members of the YMCA's peer education project team.

"This imaginative resource can be guaranteed to become a valuable tool
to encourage young people to address important issues of the day such
as drug and alcohol abuse and cultural identity," said Mo Sykes, Youth
Forum development officer.

"The great strength of this peer education resource is that a sizeable
contribution was made by young people themselves."