Ask The Expert
Short videos from our experts sharing their expertise on a particular topic relating to young people, drugs and decision-making
Meet the Experts
Fiona Spargo-Mabbs OBE
Director and Founder of the Daniel Spargo-Mabbs Foundation, Dan's mum.
Asha Fowells
Head of Education and Engagement at the Daniel Spargo-Mabbs Foundation, pharmacist, journalist.
Dr Kathy Weston
Founder, Tooled Up Education: digital library of evidence-informed tips, speaker and author.
Dr Will Lawn
Senior lecturer at King's College London, specialising in adolescent cannabis use.
Prof Rachel Isba
Consultant in Paediatric Public Health Medicine.
Sam de Neijs
Drugs educator at the DSM Foundation, nightlife and festival expert.
Tracy Lumb
Senior Project Manager – Wellbeing at SOS-UK.
Joe Elliott
Founder of Elevate Up Neurodiversity Consultancy.
Click on the heading to see the topics available
- How do teenagers make decisions about drugs? – Dr Kathy Weston
- What is the link between sleep and well-being? – Dr Kathy Weston
- What is emotional literacy, and why does it matter?  – Dr Kathy Weston
- Choice, risk and the teenage brain – Fiona Spargo-Mabbs OBE
- Amfetamines/Amphetamines – Asha Fowells
- An explanation of drug classes and how this affects risk – Sam de Neijs
- An insight into the dangers of mixing substances – Sam de Neijs
- Benzodiazepines (incl. Xanax) – Asha Fowells
- Cocaine – Asha Fowells
- MDMA – Fiona Spargo-Mabbs OBE
- Opioids – Asha Fowells
- Psychedelics – Asha Fowells
- Steroids – Asha Fowells
- Study drugs – Asha Fowells
- The unpredictable nature of illegal drugs – Sam de Neijs
- Understanding alcohol units – Sam de Neijs
- What are the risks of ketamine? – Sam de Neijs
- What factors influence the effects someone experiences when taking a drug? – Sam de Neijs
- Practical tips for guiding your teen – Dr Kathy Weston
- How can I model healthy coping mechanisms? – Dr Kathy Weston
- How can we utilise positive peer influence? – Dr Kathy Weston
- How can I help my teen to become more resilient? – Dr Kathy Weston
- Setting boundaries with other caregivers – Dr Kathy Weston
- What do I do if my teen won’t open up? – Dr Kathy Weston
- How can I create a safe space for my teen to talk? – Dr Kathy Weston
- How should I raise concerns with my teen? – Dr Kathy Weston
- Talking to your teens about drugs – Fiona Spargo-Mabbs OBE
- Tricky conversations – Fiona Spargo-Mabbs OBE
- Conversations about drugs and alcohol – Fiona Spargo-Mabbs OBE
Drug and alcohol use at universityÂ
- How many students are drinking alcohol at university? – Tracy Lumb
- How many students take drugs? – Tracy Lumb
- Why do many university students who have taken drugs choose to stop? – Tracy Lumb
- Do university students who take drugs use them very often? – Tracy Lumb
- How often do students get drunk at university? – Tracy Lumb
- What are the most commonly used drugs by university students? – Tracy Lumb
- Why do students take drugs at university? – Tracy Lumb
- Why are estimates of alcohol use at university so high? – Tracy Lumb
- Why do many university students who have taken drugs choose to stop? – Tracy Lumb
- Will I miss out socially if I don’t drink alcohol at university? – Tracy Lumb
Parent/caregiver conversations
- How can I approach a conversation with my university-aged child about alcohol/drugs? – Tracy Lumb
- How can I raise concerns about alcohol/drug use at university with my child? – Tracy Lumb
- How can I tell if my child is having problems with alcohol/drugs at university? – Tracy Lumb
Peer supportÂ
- Can I be friends with someone who uses drugs if I don’t do that myself? – Tracy Lumb
- How can I encourage a peer to address their alcohol/drug use? – Tracy Lumb
- How can you support a friend who is using drugs? – Tracy Lumb
- What are the signs that someone’s drug/alcohol use is problematic? – Tracy Lumb
- How can I have a conversation with a peer when I’m worried about their alcohol/drug use? – Tracy Lumb
- What harm reduction advice could I pass on to a friend who is drinking alcohol? – Tracy Lumb
- What harm reduction advice could I pass on to a friend who is taking drugs? – Tracy Lumb
- How can uni students make informed decisions about drugs to reduce harm? – Tracy Lumb
Seeking support at university
- What are universities doing more widely to raise awareness of the harms of alcohol/drugs? – Tracy Lumb
- What is a harm reduction versus a zero-tolerance approach to drugs? – Tracy Lumb
- Where can I find out more about drugs and related support as a uni student? – Tracy Lumb
- Will I get in trouble if I seek help for a friend who is using drugs? – Tracy Lumb
First aid
- Alcohol and the law – Fiona Spargo-Mabbs OBE
- Drink spiking – Asha Fowells
- Drugs, alcohol and university – Fiona Spargo-Mabbs OBE
- Drugs, alcohol and first aid – Fiona Spargo-Mabbs OBE
- Drugs on social media – Fiona Spargo-Mabbs OBE
- Teenage parties – Asha Fowells
- Illegal raves – Fiona Spargo-Mabbs OBE
- What is cannabis? – Dr Will Lawn
- How many young people use cannabis? – Dr Will Lawn
- Why are young people more likely to use cannabis than other drugs? – Dr Will Lawn
- What is the legal status of cannabis in the UK? – Dr Will Lawn
- How does the strength of cannabis vary? – Dr Will Lawn
- Basic first aid at festivals – Sam de Neijs
- Getting ready for a festival – Sam de Neijs
- Insights into spiking – the what, the how, the impact and what to do – Sam de Neijs
- Managing the risks associated with drug use at festivals– Sam de Neijs
- Staying safe at festivals – Fiona Spargo-Mabbs OBE
- Tips on recovering after a festival – Sam de Neijs
- Understanding support services at festivals – Sam de Neijs
- Using phones to stay safe at festivals – Sam De Nejis
- Understanding neurodiversity and impulsivity – Dr Kathy Weston
- How do substances like cannabis or nicotine temporarily change how a neurodivergent brain feels? – Joe Elliott
- How do substances like cannabis or nicotine temporarily change how a neurodivergent brain feels? – Joe Elliott
- Why are neurodivergent young people more vulnerable to experimenting with drugs and alcohol? – Joe Elliott
- What are healthier evidence-based ways to regulate a neurodivergent nervous system? – Joe Elliott
- What role does undiagnosed or unsupported neurodiversity play in early substance misuse? – Joe Elliott
- How can ADHD traits influence substance use? – Joe Elliott
- Signs a young person may be using substances to manage overwhelm and anxiety – Joe Elliott
- How does trauma, bullying, masking, and exclusion increase addiction risk for neurodivergent adolescents? – Joe Elliott
- What should caregivers do if they suspect a young person is self-medicating their neurodivergent traits? – Joe Elliott
- What can communities do to reduce the risk of substance misuse for neurodivergent young people? – Joe Elliott
- What is ketamine, and what might indicate that someone is using it? – Prof Rachel Isba
- What might make a young person more vulnerable to ketamine use? – Prof Rachel Isba
- What advice would you give to a young person curious about ketamine? – Prof Rachel Isba
- What are k cramps? – Prof Rachel Isba
- What is ketamine bladder and why does it happen? – Prof Rachel Isba
- What can people do if they are experiencing bladder problems as a result of ketamine use? – Prof Rachel Isba
- What is a k-hole and how can you help a friend experiencing one? – Prof Rachel IsbaÂ
