European experience in drug prevention

Conducted scientific research in the field of prevention has made it possible to develop methodological foundations for primary, secondary and tertiary prevention of drug addiction and alcoholism.

The problem of drug and psychoactive substance abuse among children, adolescents and young people is extremely acute both in Russia and in foreign countries. Various state and non-state institutions in many countries are taking action to overcome it. Thanks to these efforts, modern society has changed its attitude to this problem and has moved from a state of declarative recognition of the need for preventive activity to active actions. Now they are developing the main strategic approaches and scientific research base, implementing various programs, campaigns, etc.

Risk factors that contribute to the onset of drug addiction, as well as factors that ensure the stability of the individual, have been identified. The tasks of preventive activities, the main directions and organizational foundations for building preventive programs have been formulated, and a system of preventive technologies has been developed. In the field of primary, secondary and tertiary prevention, medical-psychological (psychotherapeutic), social and pedagogical technologies have been identified.

Medical and psychological technologies provide a system of actions of specialists aimed at developing an adaptive personality capable of effective development, overcoming life's difficulties and problems. Social and pedagogical technologies are aimed at the correct provision of information, creating motivation for a healthy lifestyle and forming a social support system.

Based on theoretical research, preventive programs have been developed for children, adolescents and young people of various ages, as well as for parents and teachers. The programs are being tested and implemented in schools and medical and psychological centers in various cities and regions of Russia. The program complex is most fully presented and tested at model sites, where it has been functioning for a number of years and where its effectiveness has been determined.

Specialists from many countries, noting the multidisciplinary nature of the problem of prevention, widely develop interdepartmental activity, both in terms of participation in various research projects, practical implementation of scientific research, and in solving issues of developing a prevention system. Thus, in Russia there is an interdepartmental expert council on prevention issues, created under the Ministry of Education of Russia.

At the European level, the involvement of many countries in the fight against drug abuse and illicit trafficking is carried out through the activities of a multidisciplinary cooperation group known as the Pompidou Group of the Council of Europe. The Pompidou Group is a multidisciplinary forum of experts and politicians, its purpose is to develop comprehensive anti-drug strategies, stimulate the exchange of information and experience, monitor negative signals, problems, as well as examples of effective practical experience, and combine the efforts of politicians, practitioners, and scientific research. The priority areas of the Pompidou Group's work are the prevention and treatment of drug addiction, and the development of scientific research in this area. Its work also involves sectors dealing with social issues, education, justice, law enforcement, and youth.

Currently, drug addiction prevention as a science sets clearly formulated goals, objectives and strategies of action and represents a system of scientific knowledge. Depending on the focus of preventive work on various categories of the population and youth, various strategies of activity have been developed.

However, there are serious problems, without the solution of which prevention cannot be effective and efficient. Specialists working in the field of drug addiction prevention in different countries are concerned with the search and development of new, more efficient methods and technologies of preventive work. Drug addiction prevention today requires new tactical solutions.

Experts from foreign countries recognize the following as priority approaches to increasing the effectiveness of preventive activities:

• participation of young people themselves in preventive work;
• holding European youth forums on drug prevention;
• the use of information telematic technologies in addiction prevention.

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Participation of young people in drug prevention activities

In both foreign countries and in Russia, society is beginning to recognize and appreciate the potential of young people in preventive work. Young people are rebelling against the authoritarianism of adults, sometimes not finding a common language with them. Meanwhile, young people are an active part of society and can bring positive and long-term benefits. Cooperation between young people and adults, building partnerships are a necessary condition for the successful achievement of the goals and objectives of addiction prevention programs. Young people highly value the importance of working together not only with each other, but also with society as a whole. Young people listen to young people. Young people are effective teachers who can convince their peers that drug prevention is extremely important, since this is one of the most important issues affecting modern youth. They are able to assess which methods are most effective. There are many examples of preventive programs initiated and developed by young people in various European countries. In some programs, adults are also included in the program structure, and their task is to support the efforts of young people and be a resource of experience and knowledge.

Thus, a group of young people from Bulgaria created a website with the aim of increasing the level of awareness of young people on the issues of drugs, drug addiction and drug prevention in an unconventional way. The virtual "heroes" of the site answer questions, exchange knowledge, help find the right way to solve problems that have arisen. When creating virtual "heroes", young people often used their own experience. In terms of behavior, thoughts and reactions, these characters are direct representatives of typical modern youth. The Internet forum is constantly expanding its audience, updating information on all issues of interest. In addition, everyone can participate in the evolution of virtual "heroes".

In a program developed in Greece, young people used the youth's passion for dancing and music. Along with dancing, there are films shot by the kids themselves, based on their own script, about the effects of drugs and the sensations of their use. The goal of the film is to make the viewer feel what the character in the film experienced, to identify with him. The program demonstrates the effectiveness of youth participation in preventive measures and debunks the established stereotype that dancing and music always evoke associations with drug use.

In a program developed in Poland, young people set up special kiosks in youth recreation areas. They not only provide anti-drug information materials, but also talk to volunteers about pressing issues without wasting time looking for help.

A wonderful television program called "Danger Zone" is running in Russia, where peers cover the problems of young people related to drug and alcohol use in an accessible and understandable way.

Interesting programs are created by young people in many countries, and these preventive programs are aimed at attracting the attention of young people to the problem, the opportunity to share information, and conduct training on important issues.

European Youth Forum on Drug Prevention

Among the effective tactics it is necessary to include the holding of European youth forums on drug addiction prevention of the Pompidou Group of the Council of the Republic of Korea. Within the framework of the preventive "platform" the Pompidou Group of the Council of the Republic of Korea held the "First European Consultative Forum on Drug Abuse Prevention" in October 2004 in Yekaterinburg. More than 70 young people and 100 experts, specialists, and research workers in the field of narcology from various countries of Europe and America took part in this event.

The main objective of the forum was to build an open, trusting dialogue between young people working in prevention programs and specialists, narcologists, psychologists and preventologists. Participants exchanged views, opinions and knowledge on current issues of drug addiction prevention: alcohol and illegal drug use, cannabis and tobacco use, club drugs, risks associated with drug use, "surveys on understanding youth culture, polydrug addiction.

The forum was not structured according to the traditional scheme of fixed reports and questions, but in the form of a lively conversation between young people and adult participants-specialists. Along with specialists - section leaders, young people participated as facilitators, as well as persons responsible for summing up the work of the sessions.

The main task of the session leader was to activate the young audience, to make them openly discuss various issues on the problems of drug use and prevention of this phenomenon. When the first minutes of stiffness were overcome, the young people began to speak actively and ask questions. The negative attitude of some of the young people towards adults was unexpected. They believed that adults were lying about the influence of drugs on various aspects of health and would like to know the whole truth about this. On the other hand, they believed that adults were imposing behavioral stereotypes on them, what to use and what not. Another part of the young people believed that they themselves were able to solve the problem of drug addiction and there was no need for help from adults.

During the discussions, it was found that the youth had good knowledge of various aspects of polydrug addiction. They raised complex issues such as: legalization of some types of drugs, the role of the family in preventive work, responsibility to their own future family and offspring. They also demonstrated a correct understanding of the problem of polydrug addiction in general and preventive work in particular; they shared a wide variety of preventive programs and actions that they conduct themselves.

Thus, the forum showed that equal dialogue between adult specialists and young people is a very important experiment and a necessary step for the implementation of effective preventive work against drug use among young people. In addition, similar dialogues enrich both adults and young people with knowledge. Without the active participation of young people in preventive work, it is impossible to achieve serious success. Modern youth has become an integrated part of society. Their experience, ambitions, and desire to make their contribution deserve attention.

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Use of information telematic technologies in drug addiction prevention

Many European countries recognize that one of the approaches that increases the effectiveness of preventive programs is the use of new information telematic technologies. Thanks to them, it is possible to achieve more freedom and flexibility in areas that have so far been limited by the physical realities of the world. The main advantage of these technologies is that we are no longer bound by time or place. If the telephone and fax began this process, then the advent of e-mail became a worthy continuation of it. Thanks to the use of telematics, effective tools are created for constructing and analyzing ever-more complex processes in society, and labor productivity is growing. The Internet, mobile phone services, video conferences, specialized games, and websites are increasingly penetrating preventive work. All this expands the possibilities of preventive work, facilitates dialogue between people, promotes anonymity, facilitates finding help, and regulates psychosocial distances.

Young people find it easy to work with these technologies, they are not hindered by old traditions, they are open to everything new and are inclined to learn quickly. Telematics is a manifestation of their strength, individuality and superiority over adults, it is attractive to young people and should be used in preventive work. The threshold for seeking treatment is quite high, and it can be significantly lowered by telematics. Direct "face to face" communication is not at all a necessary element in human work. In fact, people want to regulate the psycho-social distances between themselves, and this fact has become an important new feature of information networks and telematics. The Internet and other information technologies provide enormous opportunities for drug abuse prevention and treatment, even when it is necessary to help marginalized groups of society. With the help of new technologies, people can be active and participate in preventive work. Virtual reality is the most interesting prospect of telematics. On the one hand, it is an excellent tool for prevention, education and treatment, on the other hand, it is necessary to realize that it can create another addiction. Among the countries where telematics in the field of addiction treatment has achieved significant success, Finland can be singled out. The Finnish scientific center "A-Clinic Foundation" has developed prevention methods based on Internet technologies, video conferences and telephone technologies. The main server "AddiktionLink" was created in 1996. The site consists of a data bank, discussion forums, self-assessment tests and instructions, counseling services, a section for families, parents, foreigners, etc.

In 2000, the SMS mobile phone service "Promille" was also established and actively used in Finland, including an anonymous remote calculator for assessing the alcohol content in the blood. The user sends SMS information about his gender, weight, number of drinks consumed, time of the start of the drinking session, and the remote calculator will estimate the alcohol content in the blood. The purpose of this service is to provide a convenient way to measure your own blood alcohol level, for example, to assess your condition and ability to drive a car. This test can be easily used for self-monitoring of alcohol consumption.

The Finnish crisis and counselling portal www.apua.info brings together 15 health, mental health, drug treatment, child welfare and domestic violence organisations. The main advantage of the portal is that by bringing together many related psychosocial areas, it helps the user find the help they need, and the system itself directs them and the relevant services. At the same time, various forms of help are offered through one channel. The portal, with its great technological capabilities, can become a service portal for social assistance and health care in Finland.

AddictionLink won the Finnish Health Promotion Award for 1999 and was selected as one of the nominees for the European Health and Education Award in 2000. The service has significantly lowered the barrier to help for people with substance abuse problems. The number of "outpatient" contacts at the A-Clinic Foundation is constantly growing. AddictionLink helps people who would otherwise not seek information and treatment for substance abuse problems.

There is a pan-European network "Prevnet", which has developed many promising proposals, especially regarding the possible use of telematics in the field of addiction. This system highlights the technologies that should be taken into account in the future when using telematics. This is, first of all, the use of mobile phones. In the field of health and social care, telephone "hotlines" are still popular. The examples given show that telematic services can complement and sometimes improve existing care and treatment services.

Summarizing the many years of experience of European countries in the field of addiction prevention, Chris Luckett, Executive Secretary of the Pompidou Group of the Council of Europe, in his report "On the routes of drug trafficking from Afghanistan" at the international conference within the framework of the "Big Eight", noted: preventive work will become effective if preventive programs are based on scientific developments and theory, use new information technologies, and include training in social skills. To increase the effectiveness of preventive work, it is necessary to involve the family, community, and mass media, include dialogue training, take into account cultural characteristics, and increase the level of interdepartmental cooperation.

Experts attribute the difficulties in prevention work primarily to the low level of interdepartmental cooperation, idealistic and unrealistic expectations, a focus on short-term and ambitious results, unrelated and contradictory prevention goals, the construction of prevention policy on populist assumptions, and a lack of resources.

Conditions for successful and effective preventive activities:

• adaptation of foreign programs to local cultural, economic and political conditions;
• involving local experts in the adaptation process and implementation of programs;
• combining a holistic approach with a high level of cooperation between the organizations involved;
• involving target groups in preventive work (especially young people);
• inclusion and prevention programs based on schools, tribes and the formation of healthy lifestyle skills;
• making monitoring and evaluation of effectiveness permanent elements of prevention programs.