Drug Talk: New drug and alcohol website launched for ethnic minorities in Wirral

Substance Misuse Resources proudly announces the launch of Drug Talk, a groundbreaking harm reduction website for young adults from ethnic minority backgrounds living on the Wirral. Our creative team was commissioned by Wirral Multicultural Organization and Wirral Council to design and develop the site.

It's the first and only website to provide drug and alcohol information written and designed specifically for young adults from ethnic minority backgrounds, whether they use drugs themselves or are worried about a friend or family member who does. Drug Talk fills a crucial gap in accessible, culturally-sensitive resources.

Our brief was to create a site that would encourage conversations around drug and alcohol use and harm reduction among ethnic minority communities living on the Wirral, specifically to help tackle the silence that comes from the associated cultural stigma. People from ethnic minorities don't take any more drugs than anyone else, but if they do, they're less likely to ask for support because of this silence.

Substance Creative Director Ian Molyneux said: "Our challenge was to design a distinctive website that was both culturally and visually appropriate. We have been creating drug and alcohol resources for over 30 years, so we understand how important it is to produce resources that resonate with users and don't lecture them. In today's visually-literate world, people are constantly scrolling through high-quality graphics and engaging stories and doing it across various platforms and media. That means grabbing and keeping hold of their interest is becoming ever more challenging. We've designed Drug Talk so it stands out and cuts through the noise to provide a platform that young people from ethnic minority backgrounds can relate to - and trust.

"The site's brand is based on a speech bubble to promote starting and having conversations around this difficult topic. We use illustrations of people and drugs in a way that give ethnic minorities on the Wirral a sense of ownership. All the images – as well as the language – have been designed to be visually striking, as well as non-judgmental and non-stigmatising.

"Everything we did was informed by research, carried out by public health research consultant Andrew Bennett and with people from ethnic backgrounds living on the Wirral. A significant feature of Drug Talk is an accessibility tool called Recite Me, which allows the entire website to be translated into around a hundred languages (including audio). Recite Me also includes accessibility features for neuro divergencies so people can adapt the site to their specific needs, such as dyslexia or autism".

Research informed the range of drugs selected for harm reduction advice on Drug Talk, and the information used for the content came from our own range of harm reduction resources. The content has been written specifically for people with English as a second language.

The information on drugs is broken down into easy-to-digest categories that include what the drug is, how it's used, its effects, associated problems and risks and reducing those risks, staying in control and the law around the use of that drug. The latter includes how a conviction might affect an asylum claim. Drug Talk offers support, as well as further support and referral pathways.

We've also included downloadable, bite-sized versions of the harm reduction information on each drug.

The project was funded by a grant from Wirral SSMTR (Supplementary Substance Misuse, Treatment and Recovery) administered by Wirral Council. We partnered with the Wirral Multicultural Organisation and Wirral Met College, creating different designs that were tested directly with people from ethnic minority backgrounds.

To commission Substance, or talk about any creative, design, or development project you're planning, get in touch at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call Ian on 07532 214 432. Or, find out more about what we do.

Go to Drug Talk website