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A new, community-led initiative, inspired by the Icelandic Substance Use Prevention Model has been launched in the KFL&A area. The Southeast Health Unit has partnered with 14 agencies with the goal of reducing substance use and abuse among youth by building up protective factors.
The Unit’s Health Promoter Colin Baillie explains.
The Icelandic Model, or Planet Youth, was chosen as a guide due to its unprecedented success with youth as Colin reports.
Of all the partners involved, such as school boards, Kingston Community Health Centres, Youth Diversion and more, Colin states one group is critical to their plans.
A youth symposium, held in May drew almost twice as many youth as expected with a great cross-section of urban and rural participants. With referrals to youth addiction services outpacing population growth and increased substance use, the Unnamed Youth Project has its work cut out for it. You can learn more on Instagram or Facebook.
Story by Brian Turner
