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The definition of a drug varies depending on who you ask. For many people, drugs refer to medicines prescribed by doctors or illicit substances such as heroin. Our understanding of what counts as a drug is largely shaped by social and cultural influences, including their portrayal in the media, their legal status, public health messaging, and the attitudes and behaviours we encounter in everyday life.

Mental illnesses today present an urgent challenge for young people. Conditions such as depression, anxiety, and behavioural and eating disorders typically peak around the age of 15, with up to 75% of lifetime psychiatric illnesses emerging by the age of 25. According to the World Health Organization, mental health conditions account for 15% of the global burden of disease among individuals aged 10 to 19, with suicide standing as the third leading cause of death for those age

A person opens a chatbot late at night and asks whether the pills they have taken are safe. They may not know what the pills contain. They may be frightened, intoxicated, embarrassed, alone, or avoiding services because of stigma or criminalisation. In that moment, any answer will shape the next decision: seek help, wait, mix substances, or take more. When we talk about drugs, the wrong decision can have fatal consequences.