Social and Economic Effects of Alcohol and Drugs on Young People: A case study of Teso region - Uganda.

Context: Teso region in Eastern Uganda has one of the highest levels of alcohol and drug use Nationally. A project intervention aimed at preventing harmful use of alcohol and drugs among youth was initiated with support of Movendi /IOGT-NTO Movement from (2016 -2022).
The baseline information (2017 & 2023) showed that the high consumption rate of both formal and informal alcohol/drugs had led to increase in prevalence of alcohol related economic, health and social problems such as gender-based violence, HIV/AIDS transmission and acquisition, poverty, child neglect and increased school dropout levels in Soroti and Kumi districts.

Intervention: Having trained in 2017 the Universal prevention curriculum (UPC), School and Family based tracks. These approaches have been applied to train over 60 Guide Clubs in schools as peer leaders who are prevention ambassadors both in schools and communities. These approaches have also been applied to build the capacity of peer educators in alcohol and drug prevention knowledge and skills to be able to reach their communities during sensitization activities.

The peer educators trained provide family support and counselling to community members on the dangers of alcohol and drugs and the need for behavior change using the UPC for family-based track. UGGA supported the formation of community prevention leadership action teams that advocated for a local alcohol/ drug policy and enforced the implementation of approved bylaws.

Results: Through the Girl Guide Clubs peer to peer approach, 4461 young people were reached with key messages on alcohol and drug harm. Over 20,000 community members benefited from family support and counselling. Bylaws against alcohol use were formed in 4 communities and their enforcement was supported by the Prevention leadership action teams. Teso area is formulating an ordinance against alcohol/drug use.

Conclusions: Capacity building of communities and youth leaders using the UPC modules helps increase and improve community intervention as they are based on prevention science which makes it easier to deliver and utilize messages. The application of prevention science makes it easier to generate ideas driven by the communities to address problems beyond alcohol and drug issues.

Behavior change communication approaches using UPC targeting all stakeholders are important in the fight against alcohol and substance use.