TECH-SAVY teenagers have helped create a mobile phone app spreading an anti-drink and drugs message through a fun arcade game.

Students at Carterton Community College, teamed up with Oxfordshire’s Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT) to create Spike’s House Party.

In the app, players control Spike – a porcupine – as he tries to avoid drugs and alcohol at a house party.

Players tilt the mobile phone to dodge the drugs, which will blur the screen or make Spike hallucinate if he hits them.

The game cost £15,000 to produce and is available to download for free on Android smart phones. It will be available on iPhones soon.

Sam Wright, 15, from Shilton Park, Carterton, said: “They came to us with a few ideas and asked for our input because we are experienced – we play computer games.

“We came up with some of the characters and plots and how the game works.”

He added: “It has been a great experience.

“I like the fact we have got two big experiences from this, the experience of seeing game designers work and the experience of helping to raise awareness of drug and alcohol misuse.”

Karl Busby, 15, of Hill View, Carterton, said: “I feel really proud of it.

“We helped with a lot of the input and I think it has come out great – the design of the app is very impressive and the graphics are really good. I think people will play it because it is quite fun and quite challenging when it gets to the harder levels.”

Andy Tomlinson, 15, who also lives in Shilton Park, said: “It is really educational, and fun to play.

“I would like to try app and game designing in the future, so it has given me a head start.”

DAAT partnership coordinator Pasquale Brammer said: “We are getting the message across to youpng people using a method they tell us is the best way to communicate with them.

“We did not want to waste time on non-targeted things, like leaflets and posters, when they do not necessarily relate to young people.

“Social media and apps are the way they communicate now.

She added: “It is so important that people understand the risks of recreational drug use. These chemicals do massive harm to both users and those around them.

“The app aims to make sure that message is out there, and make sure people know the effects and what happens when they take drugs so they can make an informed choice.”

She said there had been three ketamine-related deaths alone in Oxfordshire in the last year.

Oxfordshire DAAT receives its funding from central Government, and commissions drug and alcohol treatment and support services.

The game was built by game designers Tecmark and animators Kilogramme.

Spike’s House Party can be downloaded at oxfordshire daat.org