Prevention of consumption

 

Programmes and projects for universal and specific prevention of drug consumption have been developed with different population groups:

General population

A national campaign was implemented during 2010 and 2011 titled "Colombia - Drug-free Territory" through mass media outlets (TV, radio and print). Educational materials were designed and distributed and 20 youth-led initiatives in the area of alternative communication were supported by UNODC.

At-risk youth

"Our efforts to promote development and fight drugs and crime will be more effective if they are rooted in partnerships with the young, civil society, governments and the international community. Working together, we can alleviate the suffering of millions and break the hold of drugs and crime on countries, communities and families." - Message from Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon.

UNODC, in partnership with the national government, has implemented a number of programmes that have focused on youth. These include:

- Supporting sports-based strategies that directly benefited 990 children and young people, 170 coaches and 410 parents in four municipalities of Colombia (2007 - 2008).

- Implementation of the competition titled "The Wind at your Back" that supported 40 youth-led initiatives across the country (2009 - 2010). This was externally evaluated (2011).

- The strengthening of the "Life Skills" programme implemented by the Fundación Leones Educando - Educating Lions Foundation - (2009).

- Development of the handbook "Prevention in the Hands of Young People" (2010).

- Implementation of the programme "Start-up and Learn" in the municipality of Soacha for the strengthening of 35 socio-productive entrepreneurial initiatives from young people, their families and communities (2011 - 2012).

- The implementation of the project "Your Voice Counts" that involved 35 musical and cultural hip hop groups from six cities across the country communicating their messages regarding peaceful coexistence, a culture of legality and a life free of drugs, with support from the Narcotics Affairs Section of the Embassy of the United States of America - NAS - (2012).

Youth Guidance Centers

Design and validation of a guidance model for young people that consume illicit drugs through psycho-educational attention in partnership with the Bogota Secretariat of Health and the development of a demonstrative experience in Hospital Pablo VI ESE in the locality of Bosa (2012 - 2013).

Also directed at young people was the "Practical guide for the formulation, development and management of social inclusion processes for the prevention and mitigation of the consumption of psychoactive substances", a publication that was specifically directed at youth and grassroots organizations to strengthen actions that reduce drug consumption among young people. This handbook was developed with the support of the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD), part of the Organization of American States.

Formal and informal workers

Between 2011 and 2012, the Programme accompanied the development of plans for the prevention of drug consumption among informal workers in 31 departments of Colombia, in partnership with the Ministry of Labor.

In addition, the Programme has worked on the design of educational materials for the prevention of drug consumption in different sectors such as health, construction and the financial sector, as well as the guide titled 'Re-discover Yourself': "A guide for facilitators of programmes to prevent the consumption of psychoactive substances that work directly with the population of informal workers."