MAINSTREAMING AND DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION

This programme module is a component of a comprehensive Demand Reduction Programme for Pakistan. The overall programme aims at reducing drug abuse in the country through two sub-programmes: 1) Drug Abuse Prevention and 2) Strengthening Treatment and Rehabilitation Services. This programme module belongs to Sub-Programme 1 and will focus on main streaming and drug abuse prevention. This includes sensitization of policy and decision makers, support to community based drug abuse prevention activities, launching of country wide prevention activities through National Youth Organizations and research on selected aspects of drug abuse with the view to designing additional programme modules on drug abuse prevention.

OBJECTIVES

To mainstream drug abuse prevention initiatives

• To sensitize policy and decision makers (within UN organizations, Federal and Provincial Governments and NGOs) for drug demand reduction through seminars and workshops on strategic planning, coordination and advocacy.

• To assist respective organizations and institutions in the inclusion of drug abuse prevention in their ongoing programmes.

• To establish drug abuse prevention committees on the district level comprising district authorities, health, education and social welfare officers, religious scholars, NGOs and CBOs

• To assist NGOs, CBOs, educational, health and religious institutions in the development and implementation of community based action plans for drug abuse prevention in 16 target districts.

• To develop, pretest and disseminate prevention material targeting youth and women.

• To conduct training and planning workshops for representatives of National Youth Organizations.

• To assist Youth Organizations in developing and implementing action plans for country wide drug abuse prevention interventions.

• To prepare a plan of action and further programme modules based on the results of respective studies.