Early Intervention for Young Drug Users Project Partners Cyprus Anti Drug Council

1. Early Intervention for Young Drug Users Project Partners Cyprus Anti Drug Council Cyprus Police Ministry of Health With the support of the Law Office of the Republic of Cyprus

2. The FreD goes net…….. • FreD goes net is the transfer to Europe and continued development of the German Federal pilot project “FreD” – Early intervention for First time noticed Young Drug Users. • The project has 19 partners from 17 European countries, members of European Union. They are defined as either “pilot” or “associated partners”, depending on their degree of involvement and implementation.

3. From FreD to FreD goes net….. • FreD was developed in Germany in the late 1990s. • General aim  to tackle the growing incidence of drug consumption in youngsters and reducing drug addiction in the future. • Parameters • Young offenders – high risk population. • Youngsters’ denial to accept help. • Failure of the national system to support this problematic population.

4. The intervention…… • Selective Prevention Program • The project aims on providing adolescents, who have been noticed for the first time in connection with their problematic use of addictive substances (especially by the police, but also at school or on the job), with early intervention measures in order to protect them from sliding into a dependency.

6. Objectivesof the course...... • to broaden their knowledge about drugs and the consequences • to incite reflection on their own use • to encourage self awareness and awareness through others, risk assessment and self responsibility • (in cases) to trigger changes in attitude and behaviour towards drug consumption • to gain knowledge of operating services in the national drug therapeutic system

7. The evaluation of the program in Germany (2000-2004)….. • Acceptance of the program • 78.3% completed the program • 94% believe the program was helpful • 73% recommended the program to others • Consumption behavior • 67% changed their attitude of personal drug consumption • 51% stop using illegal drugs • Only 5% re-offended

8. The implementation in Cyprus….. FreD goes net grew from the interest expressed by various European countries for the transfer of the successfully evaluated German FreD project. • National Coordination Cyprus Anti Drug Council • Co-operation Partners • Cyprus Police ( Drug Law Enforcement Unit) • All over Cyprus • Ministry of Health ( Mental Health Services) • “PERSEAS” ( Nicosia, Larnaka and Famagusta) • “PROMITHEAS” ( Limassol and Paphos) • Implementation period November 2007 – October 2010

9. Project timetable……

11. Cooperation Agreement between A.D.C, D.L.E.U and M.H.S…… • Target group • Legal framework • Access path through the police • Certificate of Participation • Data protection • Competence and communication channels

12. Target group….. The program “FreD goes net” in Cyprus specifically address teenagers and youths age 14 to 24 only, who come to the notice of the police as a consequence of use or possession of illegal substances.

13. The legal framework….. The pilot phase of the project is carried out on the basis of the following conditions (DLEU): • The offender has been arrested for a first time. • The seize quantity of drug is for personal use only. • The offender is legally responsible and not older than 24 years old.

14. The legal framework….. • The offender has not offended according to the article 244 of the Criminal Law, during, before or after his/her arrest. • In case the offender follows the police recommendations and attends the program FreD goes net, upon the completion of the program, the DLEU will suggest to the Attorney General the dismissal of the case. • In case the offender has been found unsuitable for the program (intake interview), it is possible to be refer to a different program. In that case the DLEU will suggest to the Attorney General that the case will be temporarily suspended for a period of 2 years. Upon successful completion of the 2 years, the offender should return the participation certificate from any other therapeutic program, to the DLEU, who will suggest to the Attorney General that the case should be classified as “otherwise disposed of”.

15. The referral way to the course for the Republic of Cyprus .............. Course participation Intake (appointment) Alex is caught certificate of participation Referral to a different program. Alex calls the project Remand : police motivates Alex (within 72 hours) DLEU suggest to the General Attorney to classify the case as “otherwise disposed of”. DLEU proceed with the case against the offender at the court. Police: offence charges + presentation for remand

16. Certificate of participation…… CERTIFICATE OF PARTICIPATION FOR REFERRALS IN THE “FreD goes net” PROGRAMME With this document, I certify that ……………………………………………of………..……………………, date of birth……………………………………. and ID number…………………………………………….:  Has completed the FreD goes net programme. From ___/___/______ Until ___/___/______ and has participated at the Intake interview  Eight-hour group session   As a result of the intake interview, the person is recommended for participation in the programme …………………………………………………..  Has not completed the FreD goes net programme. -------------------------------- ------- --------------------------------------- Date Scientific Co-ordinator National Counselling Centre for Adolescents and Family The contents of this letter is protected by the provision of the Handling of Data of Personal nature (Protection of persons) Law 138/(I)2

17. Protection of Personal Data….. “Relevant Services involved in the FreD goes net programme have an obligation to collect and process personal data of the persons participating in the FreD goes net programme, in a legal and lawful manner according to the provisions and principles of the Handling of Data of Personal nature (Protection of persons) Law of 2001. The personal data of the participants at the FreD goes net programme, in no case should be made known to a third person.”

18. The implementation period till now….. 01 December 2008 – 31 August 2009 ( 9 month period ) • 100 youths have been noticed by the police and referred to the program. • 51 of them have completed successfully the program • 11 of them failed to complete the program. • 5 of them referred to a different therapeutic program. • 15 of them refused to have an intake interview.

19. The first 6 months EvaluationCyprus’ Documentation of User Data • Number of courses completed: 7 (evaluation have been based at 5 ) • Gender : all males • Average age of users: 20 years old • Housing situation: 68.8% live with parents • Current educational status: 63.6% at university • Job situation: 52.4% worker/ employee • Previous use of prof/nal services: 90.6% no

20. FreD goes net ( first half)Cyprus’ Documentation of User Data DRUG USE of the participants in a lifetime Alcohol use : 90.3% Cannabis use: 96.9% Stimulants use: 16.1% Sedatives use: 9.7% Hallucinogens use: 16.7% Cocaine/ crack use: 32.3% Heroin use: 3.2% Inhalants use: 10%

21. FreD goes net ( first half)Cyprus’ Survey of course participants Questions How satisfied you are with “FreD goes net”? 68% very satisfied Would you recommend “FreD goes net” to your friends? 95.8% yes Statements “Participation was important to me” 64% “Participation improved my level of knowledge” 84% “Participation has changed my attitude” 56% “I intend to consume less drugs” 52% “I intend to stop taking drugs” 44% “I’m better equipped to deal with problems” 68% “I know where to get professional support” 96% “I intend to make some changes with my life” 60%

22. The next step and the outcome…. • FreD goes net pilot phase will be completed on the 30th of January 2010. • An evaluation will be contacted for the pilot phase period on Spring 2010. • The successful establishment of the evaluated selective prevention program FreD goes Net in Cyprus. • The dissemination of the program and its establishment in other environments e.g school environment. • The reduction of use between young people. • The reduction of criminality and social cost.

23. Thanks! Maria Peglitsi Cyprus Anti Drugs Council Strasbourg, September 2009