1. Evidence based primary prevention A Drug Prevention Model
Youth in Europe –
A Drug Prevention Model
Jón Sigfússon
©ICSRA / Reykjavik University

2. Substance use decrease amongst 15-16 year old adolescents

3. How has this been achieved?
Research as a basis for policy and actions on the local and national level
Prevention work has been focused on risk and preventive factors in the lives of youth
Managed to create and keep a constant dialogue between all those who are responsible for prevention in the close community of the children

5. The role of research

6. ICSRA
Specialize in systematic data collections amongst 10 to 20 year old individuals
Emphasis on:
Swift practical outputs and dissemination
Scientific peer reviewed publications
Twenty two data collections amongst year old pupils since 1992
Substance use follows birth cohorts so we found that it was important to map the situation in the youngest age groups.

7. Indicators
Health status indicators, anxiety, depressive symptoms, physical health status, lifestyle and leisure time activities, local community networks, negative life events and strain, parents and family, peer group economic and psychological issues, studies and school, substance use, values and attitudes, violence and delinquency, and more…

8. The twofold use of research
Scientific
Practical

9. The scientific role of research
In depth analysis of the data
70 peer reviewed papers past 7 years
Publications in journals in Europe and USA
Science forms the platform for practice

10. The practical role of research
Yearly data collections on substance use
Practical descriptive reports within 2-3 months of each data collection
Local information into all levels of prevention work is a key issue

11. Background

12. Upward trend 1992 – 1998

13. 1998 We tried to establish the risk and protective factors.
At this point of time research already showed us that certain circumstances and behavior in the lives of adolescents was strongly connected with use.
We tried to establish the risk and protective factors.

14. The four main risk and protective factors
Family
factors
Peer group effect
General well being
Extracurricular
activities, sports

15. And analyzing deeper Time spent with parents Family Support factors
Monitoring
Control
Family
factors
Peer group
General well being
Organized activities
vs.
unorganized
Positive and negative effects.
How we as parents approach the peer group
Staying outside late
Extracurricular
activities
Not enough to know this on a country level.
Close community information is necessary.
Inside and outside of school, at home, bullying e.t.c.

16. What could we tell policymakers and practicioners?

17. Focus on strengthening the protective factors
Family
factors
Peer group effect
General well being
Extracurricular
activities, sports

18. 1998 Drug-free Iceland
Based on these findings a research based action plan was initiated by the government with the aim to try out a totally new methodology in substance use prevention.
Obviously, what had been done before, was not working.

19. Aim of Drug free Iceland
To change the actual behavior of youth and not only their attitudes
Change the life-style environment of our children so that they would be in lesser risk of substance use

20. Our focus is primary prevention
Primary prevention, preventing the development of substance use before it starts
Secondary prevention, that refers to measures that detect substance use
Tertiary prevention efforts that focus on people already abusing substances
Of course all these exist but...

21. Local actions – examples:
Research as a basis in policymaking and actions
Strengthen parent organizations and cooperation
Support extra – curricular activities / sports
Support active NGOs´
Support Young people at risk inside schools
Form co-operative work groups against drugs
Anti smoking/drinking campains
Strengthen social capital
Long list.

22. National actions – examples:
Legal age of adulthood raised from 16 to 18 years
Age limits to buy tobacco and alcohol (18 and 20)
Strict regulations for sellers of tobacco
A total advertising ban of tobacco and alcohol
Restricted access to buying alcohol and tobacco
Total visibility ban of tobacco and alcohol
Rules on outside hours for adolecents
One municipality does not sell tobacco or alcohol

23. The researchers “guru“ approach

24. We needed to focus on close community
How could an average figure on alcohol use in Austria help prevention workers in Salzburg?
“Average” is the biggest liar!
Local information within 2-3 months of data collection each year

25. Local information fuels dialogue
Dialogue between key stakeholders
Politicians, municipalities and local authorities
Parental groups and family planners
School authorities and school workers
Health educators, health and social services
Leisure time workers, prevention workers
Sports and youth institutions
Most municipalities in Iceland have now formed groups of people working in these fields.
Only talking about what can be done better...

26. The way we work now

27. This is no magic
You need a simple mechanism to collect data on a local level:
Monitor substance use frequently
Find risk and preventive factors
Issue descriptive reports to field workers within weeks after data collection for immediate use
Repeat
Most municipalities in Iceland have now formed groups of people working in these fields.
Only talking about what can be done better...

28. Percentage of students in 9th grade that participate in sports in a sports club four times per week or more
Increased organized sports participation

29. Percentage of students in 9th and 10th grade who spend time (often/almost always) with their parents during weekdays
Time spent with parents

30. Proportion of students in 9th and 10th grade who have been out after 10 pm (3 times or more) in the past week

31. My parents know where I am in the evenings (applies very or rather well to me) 9th and 10th grade

32. And substance use is going down

33. Vienna NGO Committee on Drugs
Thank you
Vienna│September 2014
Vienna NGO Committee on Drugs
2014 ICSRA │Reykjavik University