Drugs Unwrapped is a podcast brought to you by Barod. Does an addictive personality exist? What's it like to overdose? Is taking drugs part of growing up? How does the war on drugs affect those that use substances? Each episode will ask a question and be debated by those at the front face of treatment services, supporting people affected by substance use.
We will also hear personal life stories from those who have used drugs. Nothing is off limits.
What is sober curiosity? With Scott Woolley (Arclett)
What does it mean to question our relationship with alcohol? Founder and Director of Arclett, Scott Woolley, joins Drugs Unwrapped to share his personal journey to becoming alcohol-free and explore the growing world of sober curiosity.
Scott discusses how Arclett is helping to normalise conversations around non-drinking, and how culturally relevant approaches, particularly storytelling, can inspire people to rethink their relationship with alcohol.
Scott also shares his experience of sober shaming and how we, as a society, can move towards normalising such life decisions and how we can minimise stigma associated to people choosing not to drink.
If you have been affected by the issues discussed in this episode, please visit barod.cymru and confidentially chat to a trained support worker via Barod's Live Webchat Service, that is open 7-days a week, or call Dan 24/7, Wales' national drug and alcohol helpline on 0808 808 2234 or text DAN to 81066.
For more information about Arclett and to get involved, visit: https://www.arclett.com/ (https://www.arclett.com/)
Insta: @arclett
TikTok: @arclett
LinkedIn: @arclett
Watch "I Gave Up Drinking 10 Years Ago. It Changed My Life" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIzW7KWNplc&t=1s (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIzW7KWNplc&t=1s)
Contents of the video:
(00:00) Highlights
(01:10) Introduction
(02:11) Scott's background
(04:03) Becoming alcohol-free
(07:48) Sober curiosity
(12:51) Less people drinking
(16:51) Alcohol - all or nothing
(19:45) Benefits of not drinking
(21:12) Impact of storytelling
(25: 43) Sober shaming
(32:30) Getting involved with Arclett
(33:44) Sober trails
(35:33) First steps to taking a break from alcohol
14 Sept 2026
Bringing young people's voices to the drug policy table with Ruby Rose Lawlor
We are joined by YouthRise's Executive Director, Ruby Rose Lawlor, to discuss influencing drug policy change at the UN, full spectrum harm reduction and the recent recommendation to decriminalise drugs for personal use in Ireland.
Ruby talks us through the work of YouthRise on a global level and how, and why, those young people who help facilitate their work, came to being part of an international movement. Ruby also reflects on full spectrum harm reduction, what it is and what still needs to be done for it be implemented fully and be at its most effective.
Much of Ruby's work is advocating young people's voices to help implement change within the United Nations (UN), most notably at the Commission of Narcotics Drugs (CND). Ruby shares the importance of YouthRise being at the table at one of the highest levels of drug policy, to ensure young people are at the centre of future, evidenced-based, drug policy reform. Lastly, Ruby reflects on providing evidence to the 'Joint Committee on Drug Use', made up of a group of Irish politician's, that has recently advocated for decriminalising drugs for personal possession in Ireland, following a similar recommendation made by the 'Citizen's Assembly on Drug Use'.
If you have been affected by the issues discussed in this episode, please visit barod.cymru and confidentially chat to a trained support worker via Barod's Live Webchat Service, that is open 7-days a week, or call Dan 24/7, Wales' national drug and alcohol helpline on 0808 808 2234 or text DAN to 81066.More information on YouthRise:
Read YouthRise's statement regarding 'Full Spectrum Harm Reduction' (https://youthrise.org/resources/youth-rise-statement-on-full-spectrum-harm-reduction/).
You can follow YouthRise on:
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/YouthRISE/)
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/weareyouthrise/?hl=en)
Contents of the video:
(00:00) Highlights of the episode
( (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7dKLekaM0Y&t=44s)01:40) Introduction
(06:17) YouthRise
(10:00) Why young people are involved in drug policy reform
(15:01) Full spectrum harm reduction
(25:54) The UN and advocating for young people
(43:37) Decriminalisation in Ireland
1 Jul 2026
Developing digital infrastructure within harm reduction with Mark Tudor
In this episode, we are joined by Mark Tudor, co-founder of Substancy (https://www.substancy.com/). Mark has worked in the harm reduction field for over 30 years, but most recently has established Substancy, a social enterprise that aims to develop solutions by combining knowledge about substances with the latest digital technology.
Mark takes us through Substancy's journey and their development of multiple digital services, including Drugbot (https://drugbot.cranstoun.org/en/onboard) and Drugs and Me (https://www.drugsand.me/), that aim to provide people with the information they need via digital tools. Mark discusses how such innovations have allowed us to gain valuable, real-time data, to allow the harm reduction field to shift from being reactive to proactive, in supporting people affected by substance use. Mark also shares his insight into how a digital infrastructure within treatment services foundations are critical and how such digital tools are bridging the gap between harm reduction and the general public.
If you have been affected by the issues discussed in this episode, please visit barod.cymru and confidentially chat to a trained support worker via Barod's Live Webchat Service, that is open 7-days a week, or call Dan 24/7, Wales' national drug and alcohol helpline on 0808 808 2234 or text DAN to 81066.
Contents of the video:
(00:00) Highlights of the episode
(00:44) Introduction
(02:28) Digital tools meeting out of hours requests
(04:46) Technology changing the landscape
(06:48) Gaining real-time data to adapt harm reduction
(08:51) Building digital infrastructure within service delivery
(13:01) Becoming more proactive rather than reactive
(16:59) How do we know it works and trends?
(22:52) Enhanced Games: meeting new wants and needs
(25:56) How far can digital tools in harm reduction go?
Who has been a guest on Drugs Unwrapped: The Podcast
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Deb Hussey
Sian
Dr Joe Janes
Reach and audience
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YouTube views
172
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Spotify
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 39 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
39
Social presence
0
YouTube
64
Engagement
32
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