Activities

 

Activities at the municipal level are primarily targeted on:

• Coordination of activities and approaches of the units and entities engaged in drug prevention and promotion of healthy lifestyle among young people;
• Supporting (depending on municipal capabilities) schools that are implementing health education curricula;
• Initiation of support activities at municipal level (e.g. working with media, commercial outlets etc.);
• Raising the awareness of the local community about youth issues within the context of drug use and promotion of healthy lifestyle.

Community level activities kick off with a rapid assessment of and response to the situation in the respective municipality in relation to drug-use. Based on the results of the rapid assessment, an action plan (a response) is devised jointly with the schools, which are within the jurisdiction of the municipality, willing to join the community programme for drug prevention and health promotion among young people. In compliance with the elaborated action plan, the designated local coordinator explains priority areas and underpinning activities while at the same time assisting schools focus on implementing the health education curriculum and ancillary activities, associated with the endorsement of schools as a health-promoting environment.
At the school level, Programme activities are implemented in two main areas:

• Support to endorse schools as an environment where effective drug prevention is conducted, by improving communication among stakeholders in school (students, teachers, parents, school management, support staff), and to foster an atmosphere of trust and a positive attitude to healthy lifestyle;
• Introducing a health education curriculum for students from 8th to 12th grade, aimed at improving students’ knowledge and at acquiring social skills which will help them in choosing a healthy lifestyle and in avoiding risk-behaviour;

Schools also implement a range of extracurricular activities connected to improving the environment and communication among stakeholders in school (teachers, students, parents etc.): drafting and adoption of a school policy for healthy lifestyle, drafting of regulations, procedures and sanctions (as an alternative to administrative penalties), in relation to drug use within the school, celebrating health day each year and others.Working with parents is of paramount importance, aiming to raise their awareness of drug-related problems and to involve them more closely in school activities aimed at drug prevention and health promotion. The local coordinator assists the school in creating a support network of experts, who help schools in the event of drug-related incidents.

The introduction of a programme in health education in schools is an important component of the comprehensive Community-Based drug Prevention and Health Promotion among Young People.  This entails providing training for teachers who will teach health education classes, finding the appropriate format to incorporate this discipline into the school curriculum and the practical application of the programme.