In line with the action plan on drug abuse control, ASOD has adopted
10 project proposals:
1. Training of Trainers in Interpersonal Skills and Peer Support Counselling
in Drug Education
2. Promoting Drug Abuse Prevention Activities Among Out-of-School Youth
3. Promotion of Drug Control Activities in the Workplace
4. Training on Effective Management in Prevention Drug Education Programmes
5. Enhancement of Community-Based Drug Prevention Activities
6. ASEAN Training Seminar for Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Counsellors
7. ASEAN Training on Financial Investigations
8. Training on Intelligence Operations Management and Supervision
9. ASEAN Seminar on Mutual Legal Assistance
10. ASEAN Seminar on Precursor Chemicals
Of the above, Projects 4, 6 and 9 have been implemented, while the other
seven projects are in various stages of appraisal and funding consideration.
Other
projects that have also now been designated as high-profile/flagship
projects are: the Training on Financial Investigations, the Enhancement
of Community Based Drug Prevention Activities, and Promoting Drug Abuse
Prevention Activities among Out-of-School Youth.
Emphasis on Youth. Several ASEAN projects on drug control are specifically
focused on the youth in the belief that preventing drug abuse is better
handled by the youth themselves. Among these are: Training of Trainers
in Interpersonal Skills and Peer Support Counseling in Drug Education;
Youth Empowerment Against Drug Abuse; and Promoting Drug Abuse Prevention
Activities among Out-of-School Youth.
One aim of the Training of Trainers in Interpersonal Skills and Peer
Support project is to train core groups of school teachers/counselors
in each ASEAN Member Country in the development of interpersonal skills
among students. So far, Malaysia, which coordinates this project, has
conducted training in Brunei and in Thailand, which were held in September
and November 1999 respectively. The project intends to produce a core
group of 30 trainers in each ASEAN country with Interpersonal Skills
in Drug Prevention Education, and also to develop a training manual
in the respective national language of the ASEAN member countries.
The
region's youth are also the main focus of the Youth Empowerment Against
Drug and Substance Abuse project which aims to equip young people with
the knowledge, decision-making skills and values to stay away from drugs.
Apart from developing regional cooperation and unity to enhance youth
capability and participation in preventing drug abuse through positive
and worthwhile activities, the project also searches for real-life youth
role models who can be capable leaders of youth movements against drug
abuse.
Promoting Drug Abuse Prevention Activities Among Out-of-School Youth,
in turn, aims to make use of peer group discussions to enhance available
information about youth attitudes and behavior regarding drug abuse
and related issues to assist ASOD and the member countries in the development
of more targeted prevention activities.
The subject of youth and drugs was the highlight of the Regional Conference
on Drug Abuse Among the Youth in Hanoi in November 1998. The Conference
adopted two documents:
" Appeal to the Youth in the ASEAN Region for a Drug-Free Life;
and
" Agenda for Action on Prevention and Control of Drug Abuse for
the Youth in the ASEAN Region.