CONNECTING SECTORS CREATING IMPACT: A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION MODEL FROM EWU-EKITI, NIGERIA
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The use of psychoactive substances by young people is a rising environmental health concern in many Nigerian communities. Prevention efforts have shown fragmentation across institutions, thus curtailing their impact. It has therefore, become necessary to fortify collaboration, teamwork, partnership, alliances, etc between and among societal sectors in order to build sustainable and impactful prevention systems. This Poster presents a local drug abuse prevention initiative implemented in EWU-EKITI by Lydia's Lifeline Initiative for Well-being, a community-based organisation dedicated to promoting youth well-being and substance youth prevention. As an approved training provider for the ISSUP, the Initiative integrates evidence-informed prevention principles with culturally-relevant community engagement strategies. The program focuses on connecting major sectors of the community such as Schools, faith-based institutions, traditional leadership, transport workers, youth groups, special-interest groups, and families, to promote coordinated prevention efforts. Prevention activities have reached approximately 300 students of the only secondary school and over 250 pupils of the available primary schools in the community through awareness sessions and educational outreach. Additional engagements have included church and mosque congregations, youth associations, motor vehicle drivers, Hunters' group, women groups, consultations with the paramount traditional ruler and Community chiefs. There have also been targeted one-on-one support sessions for families experiencing challenges with children at risk for problematic behaviors. Early outcomes indicate increased awareness of drug abuse risks, stronger support and cooperation among Community stakeholders, as well as growing interest in Prevention education in the whole community. The experience from EWU-EKITI has shown that connecting heterogeneous segments and branches is capable of strengthening grassroots prevention systems that create significant impact in protecting young people from substance use. This Initiative represents a united community response to drug abuse prevention, and brings together diverse sectors to collectively protect young people. Keywords: |
