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Youngsters worried that they may be going off the rails with drugs will have every reason to stay on them when a new Metro train launches next week. Nexus, the people behind the Metro, have given over a train to be branded by the drug advisory service aimed at young people aged 11 to 19, “Talk to Frank.” The train will be branded in Talk to Frank colours and features its national 24-hour Helpline number - 0800 776 600 - and website address - www.talktofrank.com As the name suggests, Talk to Frank allows youngsters to talk candidly with experts who seek to put young people straight on drugs information without the old-fashioned “just say no” approach. Talk to Frank is operated in Tyne and Wear by 12 local Drug Action Teams, which feed into the national service. Since Talk to Frank was launched a year ago, more than 1 million people have visited its website, while the Helpline takes around 7,600 calls a week and answers over 2,000 emails a month. To help raise awareness of the service, it is to be supported by a range of events in the region, including a schools quiz tour and under-18 clubbing night at Baja Beach Club on the last Wednesday of every month. Young people spotting the Talk to Frank Metro train can be confident that any contact they have with the Talk to Frank team won’t go any further. Chris Maude, Information Officer for the scheme, said: “Frank can be contacted by anybody, in confidence and for free. It is important to remember that drugs are illegal; talking about them isn’t.” The Talk to Frank Metro train will be officially launched on Monday June 14. Nexus’ Commercial Director Andy Bairstow, who will be on hand to help launch the liveried train, said: “We’re delighted to be able to provide a Metro train for the Talk to Frank campaign. “The Metro handles 38 million passenger journeys each year and is widely used by young people in the target age range and so this is a great way to raise awareness.”
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