Project “Alcohol and drug prevention among young people … – ndphs

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Project “Alcohol and drug Project “Alcohol and drug prevention among young prevention among young people people in in St. Petersburg”St. Petersburg”

Anna SkvortsovaAnna Skvortsova,,Information and Analyses CenterInformation and Analyses Center for Social and for Social and

Health NGOs, St. Health NGOs, St. Petersburg; [email protected]

Meeting of the Expert Group on Social Inclusion, Meeting of the Expert Group on Social Inclusion, Healthy Lifestyles & Work AbilityHealthy Lifestyles & Work Ability

Helsinki, 29-30 May 2007 Helsinki, 29-30 May 2007

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Why young people drink?Why young people drink?Many young people struggle with drinking. Alcohol Many young people struggle with drinking. Alcohol

is a part of young people’s lives, whether or not is a part of young people’s lives, whether or not an individual young person drinks. Many young an individual young person drinks. Many young people have drunk, or currently drink, alcohol. people have drunk, or currently drink, alcohol. Almost every young person has friends or peers Almost every young person has friends or peers who drink alcohol, and many also have parents who drink alcohol, and many also have parents or other family members who drink. “Partying,” or other family members who drink. “Partying,” drinking socially with other young people, is drinking socially with other young people, is considered “cool”. The media creates a lot of considered “cool”. The media creates a lot of images of young people drinking and promotes images of young people drinking and promotes drinking as being fun and popular.drinking as being fun and popular.

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Goal of the project:Goal of the project: TTo improve measures on how to o improve measures on how to

provide more assistance to young provide more assistance to young people/children at risk (and their people/children at risk (and their families) of social and health families) of social and health consequences including use of consequences including use of alcohol and drugsalcohol and drugs

To raise awareness of problems and To raise awareness of problems and to increase people’s knowledge about to increase people’s knowledge about their rights to care and assistancetheir rights to care and assistance

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Long-term objectives:Long-term objectives: To reduce alcohol and substance use in To reduce alcohol and substance use in

general and hazardous use in particular, general and hazardous use in particular, and alcohol’s destructive impact on young and alcohol’s destructive impact on young people’s future.people’s future.

To change misconception of society at large To change misconception of society at large underestimating the negative impact of underestimating the negative impact of alcohol and drugs to health and wellbeing of alcohol and drugs to health and wellbeing of individuals and to public health in general.individuals and to public health in general.

To influence risk-behaviour of young people To influence risk-behaviour of young people towards responsible, sustainable towards responsible, sustainable relationship with alcohol, and towards relationship with alcohol, and towards abstinence vis-à-vis drugs.abstinence vis-à-vis drugs.

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Background of the Background of the projectproject

The project - very timely and extensive background The project - very timely and extensive background work through the SIHLWA expert group that has been work through the SIHLWA expert group that has been done three sub-groups, which have met in November done three sub-groups, which have met in November 2005 and May 2006:2005 and May 2006:

- Subgroup on Alcohol (periodic/“binge” drinking) - Subgroup on Alcohol (periodic/“binge” drinking) - Subgroup on Adolescent health and socially-- Subgroup on Adolescent health and socially-rewarding lifestyles rewarding lifestyles - Sub-group on Workplace health and safety - Sub-group on Workplace health and safety

The NCM is one of the Partner organizations, which The NCM is one of the Partner organizations, which has expressed concern of well-being of youth in the has expressed concern of well-being of youth in the North, gender related inequalities, and social exclusion. North, gender related inequalities, and social exclusion. It is fully in line with Nordic values to emphasize the It is fully in line with Nordic values to emphasize the importance of investing into human capital, especially importance of investing into human capital, especially the young generation.the young generation.

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Project description:Project description: The project will start in St. Petersburg (with possible The project will start in St. Petersburg (with possible

expansion to the Republic of Karelia). Dialogue among expansion to the Republic of Karelia). Dialogue among partners will draw from each others’ experience and partners will draw from each others’ experience and involve also Finland. Media coverage of project involve also Finland. Media coverage of project activities will be used to raise public interest to the activities will be used to raise public interest to the growing alcohol problem. growing alcohol problem.

Previous alcohol/drug intervention projects among Previous alcohol/drug intervention projects among youth will be mapped and evaluated. The focus is on youth will be mapped and evaluated. The focus is on identifying the most innovative and practical identifying the most innovative and practical interventions and “lessons learned”. interventions and “lessons learned”.

A stakeholder analysis of agencies and actors aiming to A stakeholder analysis of agencies and actors aiming to tackle alcohol/drug problem among youth and children tackle alcohol/drug problem among youth and children will be done. will be done.

Coping skills through schools, professional colleagues Coping skills through schools, professional colleagues and other possible channels for general youth will be and other possible channels for general youth will be improvedimproved..

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Partners:Partners:In Finland:In Finland: Centre for Health Promotion (Tekry)Centre for Health Promotion (Tekry) Institute of Occupational Health (KTL)Institute of Occupational Health (KTL) A-clinic Foundation (A-klinikka sA-clinic Foundation (A-klinikka säätiö)äätiö)In St. Petersburg:In St. Petersburg: Committee on health of administration of St. Petersburg Committee on health of administration of St. Petersburg

((when dealing with alcohol and drug prevention among when dealing with alcohol and drug prevention among youth there are 3 other actors: Social Committee, Youth youth there are 3 other actors: Social Committee, Youth Committee and Education Committee).Committee and Education Committee).

Information and analyses center for Social and Health Information and analyses center for Social and Health NGOs NGOs

NGO of social projects “Stellit”NGO of social projects “Stellit” NGO “Look to the future” NGO “Look to the future” ((Взгляд в будущееВзгляд в будущее)) NGO “Drug abuse prevention center”NGO “Drug abuse prevention center”

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Activity outlineActivity outline Stakeholder analysis by summer 2007 Stakeholder analysis by summer 2007

(Stellit)(Stellit) Trainings for schools, professional Trainings for schools, professional

colleagues – 2007/2008 colleagues – 2007/2008 (Stellit, Drug abuse (Stellit, Drug abuse prevention center)prevention center)

Public actionsPublic actions – (Look to the future) – (Look to the future) Media seminars autumn 2007 and 2008 Media seminars autumn 2007 and 2008

(Health and Social Committees, IAC NGO)(Health and Social Committees, IAC NGO) Decision makers/administrators seminar Decision makers/administrators seminar

autumn 2007 autumn 2007 (Health and Social Committees, (Health and Social Committees, IAC NGO)IAC NGO)

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Stakeholder analysisStakeholder analysis Best practices in alcohol prevention among young Best practices in alcohol prevention among young

people in St. Petersburg will be analyzed, including:people in St. Petersburg will be analyzed, including:- Preventive programs for young people provided by - Preventive programs for young people provided by

state, municipal and non-governmental state, municipal and non-governmental organizationsorganizations

- Peer-to-peer education (including on alcohol - Peer-to-peer education (including on alcohol prevention)prevention)

- Work of so called “Health Councils” in the schools - Work of so called “Health Councils” in the schools aimed to share responsibility for planning and aimed to share responsibility for planning and implementing of preventive work in the schools implementing of preventive work in the schools among teachers, school psychologists, social among teachers, school psychologists, social workers, parents and pupilsworkers, parents and pupils

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Preventive work not enough Preventive work not enough efficient in the schools of efficient in the schools of

St. PetersburgSt. Petersburg Preventive actions are aimed on importance of healthy Preventive actions are aimed on importance of healthy

lifestyle as a whole, to prevention of smoking, drug and HIV-lifestyle as a whole, to prevention of smoking, drug and HIV-prevention. prevention. There are almost no actions aimed on alcohol There are almost no actions aimed on alcohol prevention.prevention. One of the reasons is that school teachers and One of the reasons is that school teachers and other specialists in the schools are poorly informed about the other specialists in the schools are poorly informed about the alcohol problems, about organizations provided assistance in alcohol problems, about organizations provided assistance in a case of alcohol problems and they have almost no skills of a case of alcohol problems and they have almost no skills of practical preventive work in this sphere.practical preventive work in this sphere.

Young people themselves are not involvedYoung people themselves are not involved: almost all : almost all work is provided by adults (school teachers and other work is provided by adults (school teachers and other specialists working in the schools).specialists working in the schools).

Responsibility for prevention work is not shared equallyResponsibility for prevention work is not shared equally among school specialists. Usually it’s vice-director for among school specialists. Usually it’s vice-director for education who is responsible for prevention but often it’s not education who is responsible for prevention but often it’s not among the priorities. among the priorities.

Preventive work is not systematicalPreventive work is not systematical..

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Project plan:Project plan: Project proposes to strength alcohol Project proposes to strength alcohol

prevention in the schools. Nevsky district prevention in the schools. Nevsky district is supposed to be pilot district: there is is supposed to be pilot district: there is good basis thanks joint Finnish-Russian good basis thanks joint Finnish-Russian project on Healthy Lifestyle in the schools project on Healthy Lifestyle in the schools implemented by Stellit and STAKES in implemented by Stellit and STAKES in 2004-2006. District also participated in 2004-2006. District also participated in joint Finnish-Russian project “NESTS – joint Finnish-Russian project “NESTS – Children and Families of Risk” supported Children and Families of Risk” supported by Tacis CBC program (2005-2006).by Tacis CBC program (2005-2006).

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Project plan (2):Project plan (2): Training of the school staff in prevention of Training of the school staff in prevention of

alcohol consumption among teenagers:alcohol consumption among teenagers:Timetable:Timetable: September-October 2007 September-October 2007

Organization of the meetings of Health Councils Organization of the meetings of Health Councils in the schools participating in the project; in the schools participating in the project; support to the staff in development of the action support to the staff in development of the action plan for prevention of alcohol consumption plan for prevention of alcohol consumption among teenagers tailed to particular school and among teenagers tailed to particular school and using skills learned in the trainings. using skills learned in the trainings.

Including of these prevention actions to the Including of these prevention actions to the schools plans on healthy lifestyles for schools plans on healthy lifestyles for 2007/2008 school year 2007/2008 school year Timetable:Timetable: November-December 2007 November-December 2007

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Project plan (3): Coping Project plan (3): Coping skillsskills

The program “Discovery” based on peer-to-peer The program “Discovery” based on peer-to-peer method will be implemented in order to help to method will be implemented in order to help to young people to learn how to express feelings, to young people to learn how to express feelings, to listen, to talk, to assert its point of view, to develop listen, to talk, to assert its point of view, to develop leader’s qualities, to learn how to say “no”. leader’s qualities, to learn how to say “no”. Discussions and lectures will be organized by Discussions and lectures will be organized by volunteers of the movement “Rovesnik” and volunteers of the movement “Rovesnik” and specialistsspecialists of Drug abuse center. of Drug abuse center. Timetable:Timetable: September-December 2007 September-December 2007

Railway college (Central district)Railway college (Central district) Industrial collegeIndustrial college ( (Central districtCentral district)) Trade-economical college (Central district)Trade-economical college (Central district) Alexandrovskii college Alexandrovskii college ((Petrogradskii districtPetrogradskii district))

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Project plan (4): Coping Project plan (4): Coping skillsskills

Action “Independence Day” will be Action “Independence Day” will be organized each month in various organized each month in various schools and colleges of St. Petersburg schools and colleges of St. Petersburg by a mobile team of young people with by a mobile team of young people with wide scope of technical tools in order to wide scope of technical tools in order to focus on health promotion and alcohol focus on health promotion and alcohol prevention among young people, with prevention among young people, with using play methods in education and using play methods in education and creating motivation to healthy lifestyle.creating motivation to healthy lifestyle.

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Project plan (5): Public Project plan (5): Public actionaction

Street public actions will be organized in Street public actions will be organized in the beginning of the project and on it’s the beginning of the project and on it’s final phase. It’s aimed to attract final phase. It’s aimed to attract attention to an important problem – attention to an important problem – alcoholism and promote healthy lifestyle.alcoholism and promote healthy lifestyle.

Main target group: young people from 14 Main target group: young people from 14 to 30. For younger children will be to 30. For younger children will be organized special competitions and organized special competitions and sideshows.sideshows.

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Media seminarsMedia seminars Through journalists organizationsThrough journalists organizations With an assistance of Health With an assistance of Health

committee of administration of St. committee of administration of St. PetersburgPetersburg

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Seminar for decision Seminar for decision makersmakers

With an assistance of Health With an assistance of Health committee of administration of St. committee of administration of St. PetersburgPetersburg

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Project managementProject management Steering Committee of the project consisting of Steering Committee of the project consisting of

Public Health Committee, NCM representative Public Health Committee, NCM representative in St. Petersburg, Social Attaché from the in St. Petersburg, Social Attaché from the Consulate General of Finland in SPb, Consulate General of Finland in SPb, NDPHS/SIHLWA and representatives of NDPHS/SIHLWA and representatives of partner NGOs.partner NGOs.

The role of other committees (Youth, Education The role of other committees (Youth, Education and Social) will be consideredand Social) will be considered

The NGOs/institutions who are project The NGOs/institutions who are project partners in Finland should be consulted if they partners in Finland should be consulted if they want to participate in a Steering Committee or want to participate in a Steering Committee or

““Advisory board” will be formed by them in Advisory board” will be formed by them in HelsinkiHelsinki

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Project’s output/resultsProject’s output/results Project review and best practises focusing on Project review and best practises focusing on

and evaluating alcohol/drug use programmes and evaluating alcohol/drug use programmes and low threshold unitsand low threshold units

Stakeholder analysis in project areasStakeholder analysis in project areas Young people at large provided with skills to Young people at large provided with skills to

cope with alcohol and refuse drugs cope with alcohol and refuse drugs Media seminars (1-2 per site) organizedMedia seminars (1-2 per site) organized Decision makers/administrators seminar Decision makers/administrators seminar

organizedorganized Regional and local legislative and Regional and local legislative and

administrative measures for better administrative measures for better enforcement in alcohol and drug policies enforcement in alcohol and drug policies identified and enforcedidentified and enforced

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Success criteriaSuccess criteria Successful implementation of activitiesSuccessful implementation of activities Assessment of media understanding of the Assessment of media understanding of the

problem before and afterproblem before and after Assessment of politicians’/administrators’ Assessment of politicians’/administrators’

understanding of the problem before and understanding of the problem before and afterafter

Positive development of administrative Positive development of administrative interest and measures protecting children interest and measures protecting children and adolescents from alcohol and drugsand adolescents from alcohol and drugs

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Accordance of the project Accordance of the project to national prioritiesto national priorities

The project is fully in line with the Nordic The project is fully in line with the Nordic countries’ national strategies and priorities countries’ national strategies and priorities within health- and social sector, health within health- and social sector, health promotion, collaboration within alcohol promotion, collaboration within alcohol policies, drugs and NDPHS agreements.policies, drugs and NDPHS agreements.

The project is also in line with the Partnership The project is also in line with the Partnership countries’ (Russian Federation and the Baltic countries’ (Russian Federation and the Baltic States) national strategies and priorities. States) national strategies and priorities. Combating the harmful use of alcohol and Combating the harmful use of alcohol and drug abuse and its consequences is an drug abuse and its consequences is an explicitly expressed common goal.explicitly expressed common goal.

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Project evaluationProject evaluation The project will be monitored on continuous The project will be monitored on continuous

basis through SIHLWA Expert Group. basis through SIHLWA Expert Group. Feedback will be requested twice per year. Feedback will be requested twice per year. Criteria for evaluation will be further Criteria for evaluation will be further developed in SIHLWA biannual meetings.developed in SIHLWA biannual meetings.

WHO-EURO is requested to provide external WHO-EURO is requested to provide external evaluation support. This would also benefit evaluation support. This would also benefit WHO’s own alcohol strategy development.WHO’s own alcohol strategy development.

Final evaluation will be made at the end of Final evaluation will be made at the end of the project.the project.

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What shall we done in What shall we done in future?future?

We very rarely discuss among other things what We very rarely discuss among other things what we can do as adult people for doing this world we can do as adult people for doing this world more friendly place for young people where more friendly place for young people where they will be treated well and as completely they will be treated well and as completely intelligent and capable human beings. How we intelligent and capable human beings. How we can support them to trust their own minds. can support them to trust their own minds. What we should do in order to be closer to What we should do in order to be closer to young people. What we adults need to do in young people. What we adults need to do in order to stop mistreatment of young people. order to stop mistreatment of young people. How we can be really supportive for them, be How we can be really supportive for them, be on their side and show them total respect for on their side and show them total respect for their minds and lives, instead of just worrying their minds and lives, instead of just worrying at them. at them.