BuddyUp app

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The idea is simple. People who are using drugs alone can download the app and be connected to a Cranstoun volunteer, with whom they can build a rescue plan in the event of an emergency. The plan is only activated if the app user overdoses. It will send an emergency message to them, triggering the appropriate medical attention. This app is therefore all about preventing avoidable, fatal overdose.

The app provides support and harm reduction advice at the time when individuals are using drugs. For example, safer injecting and overdose prevention advice can be provided and if someone asks for help to access drug treatment services in their area, Cranstoun can provide this information.

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UNFPA launched ‘Just Ask!’ – a chatbot for SRHR awareness

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UNFPA has launched a chatbot in India called ‘Just Ask!’ – an Artificial Intelligence (AI) digital engagement platform for adolescents and young adults, aimed to help them learn about their sexual and reproductive health and rights. Read more

London paramedics to help reduce risks of chemsex

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London Ambulance Service is introducing measures to reduce the risk of harm for people who engage in “chemsex” as new data shows that paramedics treat an average of one person a day from the effects of ‘hook-up drugs’. Read more

The Young Africa Live (YAL) smart bot

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The Young Africa Live (YAL) smart bot is a free WhatsApp platform designed to help young people in South Africa (15 – 24) tackle the complex questions that arise during adolescence around love, sexuality, mental health, and overall wellbeing – all in a private and safe space that puts the answers at their fingertips. Read more

Mobile app empowering young people in Kenya to take control of their sexual and mental health

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The world has made great gains in the control and treatment of HIV for adults and children, but young people are continuing to be left behind. It’s estimated there was a 45% increase in AIDS-related deaths between 2005 and 2015 among 15- to 19-year-olds globally, and AIDS is still the leading cause of death among young people in sub-Saharan Africa. Read more

PIXXTASY – The NFT Project Battling Drug Addiction

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PIXXTASY uses the power of NFTs and blockchain technology to fight against drug addiction and help people recover. Read more

Overwhelming amount of social posts in Hong Kong use NFTs to promote drug ad campaigns

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The number of social media posts about drugs on Hong Kong’s internet has tripled in six years, where hashtags, animation characters, and NFTs are often used to promote ad campaigns about drugs, according to a survey of Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups’ Youth Crime Prevention Center. Read more

Widespread use of crypto, Telegram leads to surge in teen drug crimes in Korea

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This summer, South Korean police busted an online drug cartel circulating methamphetamine and MDMA via an encrypted messaging app. The mastermind, as it turned out, was no Pablo Escobar but an 18-year old looking to earn some extra spending cash. Read more

Tech is Changing the Way People Score and Sell Drugs in India

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According to data from the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) of India, there are 100 million drug users in the country, with consumption rising 70 percent in the last eight years. In Bengaluru alone, there has been a nearly 10-fold increase in cases over the last three years, with India’s Silicon Valley registering the highest number of cases related to narcotics in the country in 2020. News reports and online forums refer to people’s phones being snatched, with cops searching their chat and photo applications for keywords like “score,” “ganja” and “pot”. Read more

Telegram Becoming Drug Dealing Marketplace of Choice in Argentina

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The use of Telegram as a sales and communication platform for drugs has spread across Argentina, and Telegram-enabled crimes have increased by 350% in the last two years. Read more