July, South

"By the youth, about the youth”

After losing two friends to addiction-related circumstances and dealing with addiction throughout youth, Ezra wrote a story about it all. A story that highlights the rawness of teenage drug addiction and substance abuse.

July, South is a portrait of a story that could be lived by any one of Edinburgh's young, a gripping view into the youth culture of Edinburgh and the many difficulties faced by Scottish youth. July, South delves into the difficult topics of absent fathers, the influence of older people on teenagers and the grip that the cycle of drug addiction can have on those in the youth.

'July, South' is the story of an Edinburgh youth navigating his way through Scotland's harsh landscape of drug addiction. After receiving a birthday letter filled with money from his estranged father, he goes out skating with his best friend, Nathan. Nathan convinces him to go see his dealer, Ant, as Damien has now got money. They arrive at Ant's house. Ant invites them in, after which Damien buys a gram of marijuana, he tells Nathan and Damien to try the cocaine on the table, which Nathan pressures Damien into doing. After a month, Damien is a poly-drug addict, he gets a message from Nathan asking him to take LSD with him later in the week. Damien and Nathan take LSD, however, Nathan antagonizes Damien until he has a 'bad trip' on the substance, after which, Damien falls out with Nathan, storming out of his house. Nathan goes to Ants house, where he snorts ketamine and has a nosebleed. A few days later, his mother confronts him with the drugs she found, they have an argument and he storms out of the house, he goes onto a promenade, curling up and sobbing.