As the glorious summer of 2013 continues and people from across Northern Ireland are heading out to celebrate the good weather with live music at festivals and concerts, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is warning about the dangers of taking drugs. The PHA is stressing that the only way to avoid all risks is to not take any drugs which are not prescribed for you. However, if you do decide to take drugs, there are a few guidelines which can help reduce the risk to your health and life. These include not mixing drugs with alcohol or other drugs and taking small amounts slowly.

With thousands of young people due to receive their exam results, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging parents to talk to their children about the risks associated with drinking and taking drugs. Exam results are a huge milestone for young people and many will go out socialising with friends after they receive their results. Owen O’Neill, the PHA’s Regional Lead on Alcohol and Drugs, said that parents’ attitudes and behaviours in relation to alcohol and drugs have a strong influence on their children:

Outdoor festivals are a time to celebrate and enjoy the summer. However, the relaxed mood can lead to festival goers becoming a little too relaxed and putting themselves and others at risk. The Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding people to follow some simple tips while at festivals this month.

Thousands of volunteers at the World Police and Fire Games (WPFG) have been urged to put their best foot forward and step up to the Pedometer Challenge by Active Belfast. Working as part of Belfast Strategic Partnership, Active Belfast has supplied 3,600 pedometers to volunteers at the games so that they will be able to measure the level of their physical activity during the course of the WPFG.

To celebrate the first anniversary of the full roll-out of the Northern Ireland AAA Screening Programme, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging all men aged 65 to take up the offer of having this vital health check. The aorta is the main artery that supplies blood to your body. It runs from your heart down through your chest and abdomen (belly).

Peer support could be key to helping more mothers breastfeed beyond the first few weeks of birth, according to the Public Health Agency (PHA). Today [1 August] sees the start of World Breastfeeding Week, which runs until 7 August, and the role of peer support is the main focus this year.

Ahead of World Hepatitis Day on Sunday 28 July, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding people who think they may be at risk from hepatitis B or C infection to get tested. The latest figures from the PHA show that there were around 110 new cases of hepatitis B and about 130 new cases of hepatitis C reported in Northern Ireland in 2012. These figures have remained consistent for the past five years.