According to recent researches more than 25% of the 9th and 10th graders in secondary education has consumed some kind of illegal substances just as alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs (AOTD) in the EU. In case of VET students this percentage is even higher.
Adolescence is a time to develop knowledge and skills, learn to manage emotions and relationships, and acquire attributes and abilities that will be important for enjoying the adolescent years and assuming adult roles. Youth who engage in underage drinking are more likely to experience school problems, social and legal problems, physical problems. Drug use in adolescence can result in a decline in school performance, an increased risk of mental health issues, impaired driving, and the potential for addiction. In general the working-class educational paths tend to be even more associated with elevated drinking and drug usage.
The rationale for focusing primary prevention efforts on youth (and those who influence youth) includes:
- Nearly all adult substance abusers began use during adolescence or childhood, typically starting with “gateway”drugs (alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana).
- The earlier in life a young person begins to use drugs, the greater likelihood of ATOD problems in adulthood.
- Many of the methods of primary prevention (e.g., media campaigns, preventive education, etc.) are generally insufficient for stopping use that has already begun.
- Drug use during childhood and adolescence can have profound, life-long negative effects.
- Underage drinking remains a pressing public health problem globally long-term patterns of problematic alcohol use are considerably more likely to develop among adolescents around the world who pursue working-class educational paths, e.g. students in vocational/trade schools
Our mission is to advance the capacity of schools and teachers to respond to alcohol-and drug-related problems. Our course will give you the knowledge to recognise substances that are misused and their effects including legal highs, illegal drugs and alcohol. We are trying to help you to promote coping behaviors and help-seeking skills that keep students healthy and able to carry out early interventions when there are problems.
Day 1
- Meeting and getting to know each other, brainstorming and teambuilding
- Information about the course.
- Cultural visit of the city centre.
Day 2
- Participants will be able to demonstrate the physical, psychological and behavioral aspects of juvenile alcohol and drug use.
- Recognition of the usage of different substances – clarifying the health assessment.
- Identify the risk factors of smoking and alcohol drinking in adolescence. How early does the trouble start?
- Visiting a local NGO that is specialized for rehabilitation.
Day 3.
- What characteristics of youth, their families, and their communities tend to be more present in the backgrounds of teenage ATOD users than is the case with non-users?
- Participants will talk with teachers, child psychologist who have experience about the topic.
- Cultural program.
Day 4
- Causes of Dependence. Treatment of anxieties and complexes, with particular emphasis on disadvantaged students.
- How juvenile alcohol and drug use affects adult addictions?
- How to identify the most vulnerable and risk behaviour performing students?
- How do we select the most helpful prevention methods?
Day 5
- Presentation of several supporting activities and interactions, facilitative tasks that are applicable in practice.
- Motivational conversation with students who openly accept his addictions and has already started the rehabilitation.
- Evaluation meeting with participants.
Day 6
Saying goodbye to partners