INTERNATIONAL experts from a celebrated drug and alcohol prevention model will address strategies to combat teenage smoking, drinking and drug abuse in Mount Gambier later this month.
Mount Gambier is one of five locations across Australia selected to pilot the Planet Youth program, an evidence-based preventative model credited for drastically reducing alcohol and drug use rates among Icelandic youth.
The model combines research from across the world and information gathered from local communities to combat youth uptake of alcohol and other drugs.
The first phase of the model involves collecting data from young people to provide information about the protective and risk factors.
Year 10 students living in the Mount Gambier and Grant District council areas participated in an anonymous survey, which focused on the lives and lifestyles of young people and questions about the risk and protective factors influencing their behaviour.
Through asking questions around family structure, parental and peer support, leisure activities, substance use and academic achievements, the findings aim to develop an understanding of issues and opportunities for targeted interventions.
The Limestone Coast Local Drug Action Team – which comprises representatives of Substance Misuse Limestone Coast and the two councils, estimates 67pc of Year 10 students living in the Mount Gambier and Grant council areas have participated in the anonymous survey.
In addition to the youth survey both councils have undertaken an infrastructure report examining issues such as housing, transport, youth services and recreation options.
Substance Misuse Limestone Coast project officer Sophie Bourchier encouraged community members, businesses and organisations to attend the meeting and strengthen their understanding of issues and opportunities facing the Blue Lake city’s young people.
“The surveys were completed in November 2019, which means the information is current and identifies the issues our local young people have,” she said.
“The session is a great opportunity for the Limestone Coast community to come together to plan future preventative programs for our young people.
“This action plan will focus on how, as a community, we can strengthen protective factors that enable young people to flourish and reduce risk factors that make it hard to develop healthy lives.”
In Iceland, the government used the information gathered from the surveys to address youth substance abuse and employed a number of strategies – including a curfew for those under the age of 16.
Other strategies included banning tobacco and alcohol advertising and getting parents more involved in their child’s life.
Ms Bourchier said the session and subsequent action plan would focus on region-specific information and potential responses.
“The community action plan will be unique to our area and the solutions that happen worldwide are unique to their own areas,” she said.
“Australia is different to other countries and our solutions will be unique to us.”
The results will be shared at a public meeting at City Hall on February 26, with representatives from the Icelandic Centre for Social Research and Analysis and the Alcohol and Drug Foundation discussing the findings.
The free community information session starts at 9am and refreshments will be available.
Registrations for the event can be made at eventbrite.com.au
