Emmerdale youngster Ollie Reynolds is getting no peace to study.
The troubled schoolgirl is desperate to do well in her exams but
those around her are being insensitive to her work needs.
At first, when she was having to cope with her boyfriend Danny and
granddad Len’s messiness, Ollie felt it was all getting a bit
too much. But she soldiered on figuring things could only get better.
However, since the furore over Stephen Butler’s sexuality,
Ollie has kindly offered furious Katie a place to stay to get space
from homophobic boyfriend Andy.
But now things at the house are getting ridiculous. Having made
up with Andy, Katie is now letting him share her room and there is
no room for Ollie to revise.
Tonight Ollie thinks there is light at the end of the tunnel when
the pair decide to move on. But there plan to find a room of their
own serves to infuriate Andy’s adopted dad Jack Sugden – who
makes it clear that they are no longer welcome at his farm.
Will Ollie be called upon to help out her friends once again?
EMMERDALE
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Danny is horrified to discover Ollie is using drugs. When he asks
her, Ollie denies it, but Danny finds a film case containing powder
in her school bag - and his worst fears are confirmed.
“Ollie has been through a lot,” says Vicky Binns, who
plays the troubled schoolgirl. “Her family broke up and her
mother was killed - she hasn’t come to terms with it. Plus
she’s been studying for her A-levels and going out with Danny.
“Ollie’s not the type to ask for help, so she turned
to drugs to ease the pressure. She tries to concentrate on her exams,
then she realises she’s missed a page of questions in one exam
and is devastated.
“She goes to her mum’s grave and struggles to keep herself
together. When Danny turns up, he asks her about drugs, but she can’t
admit what she’s doing. This is a difficult time for Ollie.
It’s no wonder Danny’s worried.”
Stressed out Ollie Reynolds is resorting to desperate measures tonight.
Unable to find enough time to tidy her home and study for her exams, Ollie has
been using speed to help her cope.
And, inexplicably, her predicament had gone unnoticed by boyfriend
Danny Daggart or grandfather Len. But Danny has been getting suspicious
about his girlfriend's erratic behaviour in the last few days.
The kindly antiques worker decides the best way to tackle the situation
is to confront his pretty lover with an accusation of drug taking – and
her defensive manner suggests that Danny has hit the nail on the
head.
But Vicky Binns – who plays the troubled youngster – believes
that losing her mother has pushed Ollie into this dangerous situation.
She explains, "Ollie's not taking speed for the usual reasons
that you associate drug-taking with. She's not depressed or doing
it because she thinks it's cool
"She's just got so much to do, and needs something to help
her through it all. Her mum always wanted her to do well at school,
so she sees the exams as a way to make things up to Angie. She's
doing it for her dead mother."
Emmerdale's Danny Daggart is faced with a difficult decision tonight.
The loyal lad has been worried that his stressed out girlfriend Ollie Reynolds
has turned to taking drugs to help her cope.
Having tried to confront the situation head on, Danny was left despairing
by Ollie's ferocious response – and he is worried the problem
may be getting serious.
His worst fears are confirmed when he goes through his loved one's
belongings and discovers some speed. At the moment he uncovers the
stash, Ollie's grandfather Len walks in.
And actress Vicky Binns – who plays the troubled teenager – is
convinced Ollie will be distraught that her secret is out.
She says, "She's been really selfish about the whole thing
and not really thinking about her family, but she definitely didn't
want them to find out. I guess she's a little embarrassed about it.
“She thinks that once the exams are over she'll stop, and
nobody need ever have known."
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Susan's Soap Solution
by Teletext agony aunt Susan Quilliam
This week I'm looking at the problem of life stress causing drug
use.
Like many teenagers Emmerdale's Ollie Reynolds has been under exam
stress lately and that's on top of the recent trauma of her mother's
unexpected death.
But Ollie thinks she's found a way to cope — she's started
taking speed to keep her going through the exam period. Luckily boyfriend
Danny discovers what she's doing.
Is there any hope for the unhappy teenager?
She is unusual. Many people take drugs for deep reasons. They are
low in self-esteem or want to be part of the in-crowd.
Ollie is starting to use drugs in response to a particular situation.
To get her through a stressful time when she desperately wants to
succeed. In fact, drugs won't help. Speed increases energy short
term but can be dangerous.
It can cause exhaustion, depression, panic and even mental illness
in the longer term.
Danny is shocked when he discovers Ollie's habit but his experience
of living in a druggy area means he is not freaked out by it.
He knows he needs to listen to her, understand why she's using speed
and support her to get things sorted. This is more helpful than grandad
Len's threats.
The main thing she needs in order to stop taking drugs is for the
exam pressure to drop and her self-belief to rise.
Luckily for her, both these things start to happen.
Her exams finish, the tension lifts and she gets a job with Paddy
Kirk, which makes her feel good about herself.
With Danny's support, she may well get through her tricky patch.
If life is too much for you, drugs are not the answer. Get support
from people around you to cope better, or to give yourself a break.
If you know someone who's taking drugs, or you are yourself, then
you need to help to find out what's happening and get the situation
sorted.
Call the National Drugs helpline on 0800 77 66 00for practical advice
and emotional support. |
