Episode 9. Anti-drugs & Stress talk

This episode brings children’s voices to the centre of everyday challenges many of them face. Through stories about Jacob and Chloe, children explore real situations involving drugs, stress, anger, and friendship. Their responses are honest, practical, and grounded in their own lives.

Jacob’s story opens a conversation about drugs, safety, and why people might turn to harmful coping strategies. The children respond with clear advice. They link drug use to stress and talk about healthier ways to cope, including swimming, yoga, and staying active. You hear how children understand risk, but also how they think about support and alternatives.

Chloe’s story shifts the focus to anger and behaviour. The group reflects on what happens when emotions take over and how actions can affect others. They suggest ways to manage anger such as talking to parents, asking for help, taking time out, reading, listening to music, and stepping away from conflict. The discussion moves naturally into bullying, empathy, and the importance of recognising other people’s feelings.

Across both stories, a strong message comes through. Children value being listened to. They know when something feels wrong. They also have clear ideas about what helps. Whether it is asking a teacher for support, speaking to a parent, or finding space to calm down, their solutions are rooted in everyday relationships and simple actions.

This episode shows how children make sense of complex issues in direct and thoughtful ways. It highlights the importance of giving them space to speak, reflect, and support each other.

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This project is supported through the Daphne-CHILD programme, a European initiative led by Eurochild and Terre des Hommes and funded by the European Union through the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme. The programme supports grassroots organisations across nine European countries that work to prevent violence against children, while ensuring that children themselves participate in shaping solutions.

The campaign will culminate in an advocacy seminar on 15 May 2026 in Dublin, bringing together educators, policymakers, youth organisations and child protection professionals to discuss the key messages emerging from the project and explore how children’s perspectives can better inform policy and practice.

For more information, visit https://listentous.ie.

About the Daphne-CHILD programme
The Daphne-CHILD programme (2024–2027) is a European initiative led by Eurochild and Terre des Hommes and funded by the European Union through the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme. It supports grassroots organisations across Europe working to prevent violence against children and strengthen child protection systems through meaningful child participation. More: https://daphne.childhub.org.

Thank you for listening and please leave us a review on Apple or Spotify as it will help the children's voices and messages echo out into the world. We are on Instagram @caspr.ie  

Transcript

(0:00) Jacob is 12 years old. He likes football, math and art. (0:06) You know what happened, Jacob, last week? Jacob found a bag in the park, right? (0:11) He found a bag in the park and his parents were a bit worried because there was drugs (0:15) in the bag, right? Does anyone know what drugs are? (0:19) Drugs are very bad for your body. They're like smoke, but it's very illegal in Ireland to have (0:25) drugs. No, they actually make you very unhealthy and if you eat those or smoke those or drink (0:32) those, they actually make you die because it's not good for your health or your lungs. (0:37) And does anyone know why people would take drugs? (0:40) They probably make you stressed.(0:42) Yes, that's a really good point. Sometimes when people are stressed, (0:45) they take drugs, but they actually don't help. (0:48) If you were going to give him advice, what would you say to him about it? (0:52) Because he doesn't really know much about drugs. What would you say? (0:55) So what else could he do if he was feeling a bit stressed? What could he do instead of drugs? (1:01) You can do swimming to get your mind off it. (1:04) That's a really good idea. So we heard yoga and we heard swimming.(1:11) This is Chloe. She's nine and a half, right? She loves cooking. She loves cooking.(1:18) She loves making cookies and she loves gymnastics, right? (1:22) So Chloe is having a bit of a problem because when she gets annoyed, she gets really angry (1:31) and she starts to shout at people and push people and be mean to people. (1:37) So we want to help Chloe to be a nicer friend. What advice have we got for Chloe? (1:43) What can she do instead of being angry? What else could she do? (1:46) Maybe if Chloe would be upset or angry, she could talk to, like, (1:53) she could ask their parents to get, what's it called? (1:56) No, she could get an SNA just to help them in the room, (2:01) just to come to their house or what's it called? When you got to tell them, what's it called? (2:09) What's it called? (2:14) What do they do? What is the... (2:15) You can tell them whatever you feel.(2:19) A counselling therapist? (2:21) A therapist, yeah. You could just ask your dad or mom to get a therapist for you. (2:26) You can let all your emotions go out or you could just tell your parents (2:31) because you know you can tell anything to your parents.(2:33) That's really good because being angry is normal, (2:36) but it's how we manage our being angry is the important thing, isn't it? (2:40) Probably, like, read a book or lie in your bed or go on your phone instead of kicking (2:47) people and pushing people. (2:48) Yeah, that's a really good idea. (2:50) Because that's basically bullying.(2:51) Yeah, that's true. So take some time out and chill out a bit. (2:55) And other people has feelings too.(2:57) If you're stressed, you could just walk to your teacher and say, (3:00) teacher, or I'll just make up a name, Miss Hockney. That's your teacher name just for now. (3:06) And you could just ask her before it's home time, (3:12) can you just help me a little bit with reading because I'm a little bit stressed (3:15) because I don't know how to read.(3:17) And then if he was feeling angry, what would he do that wouldn't hurt his brother? (3:24) Do nothing. (3:25) Do nothing or maybe talk about it? (3:27) Yeah. (3:28) I like hearing nirvana. Like, you're my queen. You know that one? (3:34) Yeah, and then I just dance my body off until I get feel tired. (3:40) And then I just feel chill. I'm like... (3:43) Anyone have an idea what could you do instead of slapping your brother? (3:47) If your brother's annoying you, you could just tell him to stop. (3:50) And if he doesn't stop, you tell your parents. (3:52) If he stops then, then you could just tell him maybe when he goes in the room, (3:57) you can just tell him maybe next time don't annoy her sister.(4:02) So then he won't slap you. (4:03) Tell your mum or your dad. (4:05) And I think sometimes I used to be... I am a sister and I have brothers.(4:11) And sometimes I used to annoy them if they wouldn't let me play (4:14) because I was a bit lonely. (4:16) Has that ever happened, do you think? (4:18) If you have a mum that has a baby and you ask your mum can you play a game (4:22) and your mum said no because she's trying to feed the baby, (4:25) you feel left out because your mum thinks you're the other baby. (4:29) When I was a baby, like when I was like only two, my brother was 15.(4:33) And every time when he'd go to sleep, I used to crawl in my crib (4:37) and I used to literally go onto his bed and I used to wake him up (4:40) and he'd just say stop, I'm trying to go to sleep. (4:43) I woke him up to give me my bottle.