STAGE 5. Defining the action plan

What steps should be completed?

Step 1: Specify intervention actions

TUTORING INTERVENTIONS ("MENTORING”) *

These interventions connect young people (usually from socially disadvantaged environments or living in situations of marginalisation) with reference adults who commit to regularly dedicate part of their time to activities with these young people to foster their personal growth and social inclusion. 

There is some evidence for teachers, community leaders and similar figures successfully preventing drug use by tutoring or accompanying preadolescents and adolescents. Studies carried out in the USA relate implementation of this type of intervention with reduced consumption of alcohol and other substances by young people, even a year after the intervention, and reduced violent behaviour.

The following factors are associated with tutoring-based interventions functioning well:

GOOD FUNCTIONING

Training mentors correctly. Offering ongoing support to mentors. Being based on programmes with very structured activities.

 

* Based on International Standards on Drug Use Prevention (UNODC):