Preventing the use of psychoactive substances and promoting a healthy lifestyle among adolescents are the main goals of two preventive programs, the implementation of which begins this school year in all Gabrovo schools.
“Codename “Life”, aimed at students from 5th to 7th grade, and “From peers for peers”, for students from 8th to 11th grade, already have their pilot editions in OU “Neofit Rilski” and PGT “Pencho Semov”, as teachers and students from other local educational institutions will work on them.
The decision is the result of meetings held between representatives of ObSTARV and PIC with the mayor of Gabrovo Municipality, the managements of the schools and the RUO, and is an expression of the commitment of the institutions to develop even more active preventive activities aimed at children and adolescents.
With it, Gabrovo ranks first among the other regional cities in the implementation of the national programs for the prevention of the use of narcotic substances in the school environment.
A team has been formed in each school that will implement the programs – psychologists, pedagogical advisors, medical specialists, resource teachers. The school specialists engaged in the process have undergone theoretical and practical training, led by employees of the Preventive Information Center at the Municipal Council on Narcotic Substances-Gabrovo.
The programs mainly use interactive methods and approaches and are aimed at developing social and personal skills and supporting the formation of attitudes for a life free from addictions. In the preventive program aimed at students from 8th to 11th grade, an active activity based on the “peers teaching peers” approach is also included, and high schools are already working on the formation and training of school volunteer teams.
The national preventive programs, in addition to student training, also include thematic meetings with parents, which is one of the main prerequisites for their effectiveness and the possibility of covering all interested parties in the process of preventing the risky behavior of students.
The programs have been approved for implementation by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education and Science, and are in implementation of the National Strategy for the fight against drugs. The team of ObSNV and the Preventive Information Center on Addictions-Gabrovo thanks the school managements for their commitment, and will continue to provide methodical support and support the implementation activities of the two programs.
