13th Congress of EUSUHM PROTECTING YOUNG GENERATION FROM ALCOHOL Narcisa Slugan, MD, MSc school medicine specialist Institut of Public Health Medimurje.

13th Congress of EUSUHM13th Congress of EUSUHMPROTECTING YOUNG GENERATION PROTECTING YOUNG GENERATION

FROM ALCOHOLFROM ALCOHOL

Narcisa Slugan, MD, MScNarcisa Slugan, MD, MScschool medicine specialistschool medicine specialist

Institut of Public Health Medimurje County Institut of Public Health Medimurje County Dubrovnik, 12 - 15 October 2005.Dubrovnik, 12 - 15 October 2005.

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTIONTHE COUNTY OF MEĐIMURJETHE COUNTY OF MEĐIMURJE

populated by aproximatelypopulated by aproximately 130.000130.000 with an with an average of average of 173173 inhabitants per km2 inhabitants per km2ČAKOVECČAKOVEC is the cultural and administrative center is the cultural and administrative center of the County with the population of of the County with the population of 1700017000there are two more towns: there are two more towns: PRELOGPRELOG and and MURSKO MURSKO SREDIŠĆESREDIŠĆE

In the County there are In the County there are 3131 primary primary schools, schools, 2929 local schools and local schools and 66 secondary schoolssecondary schools

They are attended by They are attended by 1188311883 pupils in pupils in primary and primary and 46314631 in secondary in secondary schoolsschools

The only college –type institution is The only college –type institution is the Teacher-training college the Teacher-training college (Department of pre-school and (Department of pre-school and primary school education of the primary school education of the Zagreb Philosophic College), attended Zagreb Philosophic College), attended by by 480480 students, situated in Čakovec students, situated in Čakovec

Why alcoholWhy alcoholAlcohol is traditionally widely Alcohol is traditionally widely

used in our countyused in our county

In Project definitionIn Project definition the the importance of sensibilisation importance of sensibilisation

and collaboration with and collaboration with representatives of local representatives of local

authority, schools and youth authority, schools and youth was recognized as necessarywas recognized as necessary

GOALSGOALSTo determine the To determine the prevalence of alcohol prevalence of alcohol drinking in youth drinking in youth To investigate their life To investigate their life style and attitudesstyle and attitudesTo create and implement To create and implement the appropriate prevention the appropriate prevention program for youthprogram for youth

SUBJECTS AND METHODSSUBJECTS AND METHODS

1. THE SURVEY1. THE SURVEYTHE SAMPLETHE SAMPLE 5847 school children 5847 school children age 12-19 yearage 12-19 year 51% female and 49% male51% female and 49% male

Method used:Method used: anonymous anonymous questionnairequestionnaire

Issues about alcoholIssues about alcohol

90%90% think that alcohol think that alcohol will harm their will harm their healthhealth, but much later when they get old, but much later when they get old

70%70% drink drink to feel betterto feel better - to forget - to forget problems with school or parentsproblems with school or parents

10%10% drink because their drink because their friends suggestfriends suggest itit

40%40% think that alcohol is think that alcohol is good for good for relaxationrelaxation but problem is that other but problem is that other people (parents, relatives..) will blame people (parents, relatives..) will blame themthem

Issues about alcoholIssues about alcohol 60%60% think that think that prohibition has no effectprohibition has no effect (to (to

youth younger of age 18)youth younger of age 18)

8%8% drink drink every dayevery day

10%10% have have an alcoholican alcoholic in family in family

15%15% nevernever drink drink

Group established by Group established by volunteersvolunteers - from primary and - from primary and secondary schools secondary schools

Five Primary (1766 pupils) and Five Primary (1766 pupils) and five Secondary schools (4233 five Secondary schools (4233 pupils) that are located in pupils) that are located in Čakovec, which is recognized as Čakovec, which is recognized as “CITY-FRIEND OF CHILDREN AND “CITY-FRIEND OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH” YOUTH”

2. THE SURVEY FINDINGS WERE THE BASIS FOR ACTION

(PEER-BASED EDUCATION)

They They were educatedwere educated to act as peer- to act as peer-educatorseducators

Teenagers Teenagers educateeducate their peers in schools their peers in schools from 6. grade (12 years) of primary school from 6. grade (12 years) of primary school

to 3. grade of secondary school (18 to 3. grade of secondary school (18 years)years)

The Project started in school-year The Project started in school-year 2001/02 and lasts continually2001/02 and lasts continually

Every year new teenagers wanted to be Every year new teenagers wanted to be involved in the Projectinvolved in the Project

A group of highschool volounteers

Training life skillsTraining life skills

RESULTSRESULTS

Beginning to understandBeginning to understand

Many teenagers have been told Many teenagers have been told about alcohol and problems that about alcohol and problems that may result from its’ abuse, but may result from its’ abuse, but now they discuss it deeply with now they discuss it deeply with their generationtheir generation

RESULTSRESULTS

Identifying the problemIdentifying the problemVolunteers-teenagers deliberately Volunteers-teenagers deliberately

identify problems that bring identify problems that bring alcoholalcohol

Willingness to actWillingness to actThey want to pass their knowledge They want to pass their knowledge

and understanding to the others and understanding to the others in generationin generation

Highschool educators in actionHighschool educators in action

The audience in classThe audience in class

The action “OHNETANOL NIGHT”The action “OHNETANOL NIGHT”

(Night without alcohol – opposite (Night without alcohol – opposite of bambus or votka party)of bambus or votka party)

every school-year finished our every school-year finished our ProjectProject

This year it was on 7th May in This year it was on 7th May in Youth Club “Old Oak” in ČakovecYouth Club “Old Oak” in Čakovec

Invitation for partyInvitation for party

Entrance fee

Cheers!Cheers!

Chatting before waiting at tablesChatting before waiting at tables

Our pedagogues from HS are with usOur pedagogues from HS are with us

Band “The stvor” in actionBand “The stvor” in action

DISCUSSION AND DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

Readiness to changeReadiness to change

They want responsible community They want responsible community and express the readiness to be and express the readiness to be involvedinvolved

TThey act as the role models, and hey act as the role models, and they will be adults soon...they will be adults soon...

Thank you for your attention!Thank you for your attention!