Through the implementation of this project, we aimed to contribute to the social inclusion of young people aged 14 to 30 who are at high risk of becoming dependent on alcohol or various substances. The primary goal was to create a joint curriculum, an educational material that addresses the physical, psychological, and spiritual aspects of addiction prevention, providing not only information but also concrete lesson plans, role-playing games, and necessary tests for specialists, developing in this way the capacity of organizations to provide quality prevention programs. By developing this curriculum, we have contributed to the training and professional development of the aforementioned individuals. Additionally, we trained internal specialists from the two organizations, deepening the Portage method and Life Coaching, with an emphasis on combining elements of both methods, which represents an innovation in this field and has been tested on youngsters. Another goal was to reconnect, strengthen, and develop relations with our Hungarian partner, visit their therapy centers for substance dependence, facilitate an exchange of experience between specialists from the two countries, and prepare for the opening of a Drug Ambulance.
We applied for this project because, through prevention programs conducted in schools, universities, church communities, camps, or various festivals, we have observed that young people between the ages of 14 and 30 do not have enough knowledge about different types of drugs, the risks associated with their use, and the negative consequences they can have on their bodies, both biologically and psychologically, as well as spiritually. Furthermore, we have noticed that the age of young people who start using various drugs (legal or illegal) has decreased, and those who reach our Therapy Center for substance addiction due to dependencies on alcohol, various drugs, gambling, or behavioral addictions, often mention that they were not sufficiently informed in this regard and have lack in the skills to cope with abusive drug use. Emphasizing the prevention of abusive drug use is essential, but there is also a need to shift mindsets toward choosing a healthy lifestyle, leading to a higher-quality life filled with joy, satisfaction, and fulfillment in school, family, work, and friendships. For this, well-trained specialists and well-informed young people are crucial.