|
"Prevention is better than cure"
|
|
|
|
Hope UK’s aim is to prevent the harm related to alcohol, tobacco or illegal drug use.
|
|
|
|
Hope UK does this by encouraging individuals – especially children and young people – to choose to make healthy choices about using substances. This is called Primary Prevention because the aim is to stop drug use before it starts.
|
|
|
|
The majority of young people are not part of the illegal drug culture, although many more smoke and/or drink. Hope UK’s values lead to a strong emphasis on peer influence and role modelling. What each person does affects those around them. ‘Significant’ adults like parents, children’s and youth leaders have an impact on children as they grow up by what they do and say.
|
|
|
|
There is debate about the effectiveness of prevention and there are no easy answers. Hope UK believes this makes it even more important to prevent harm by positive education which celebrates life and promotes good health. Individuals make their own choices and activities which help children and young people to improve their decision-making ability and knowledge are an essential part of ‘prevention’.
|
|
|
|
There is no guarantee that any individual will always make a drug-free choice – after all, people drink, smoke or use illegal drugs for pleasure – but it is also right that children and young people should grow up in a world where they are given the opportunity to live their lives to the full.
|
We would be happy to give a drug awareness session in your school, youth group, or parents' meeting. Contact andyandnannette@cs.com or visit www.hopeuk.org.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|