LWL Für die Menschen. Für Westfalen-Lippe

Based on the needs identified at a National level and high prevalence of legal and illicit substance use at the club scene as suggested by the EMCDDA, the Cyprus National Drugs Strategy 2009-2012 has introduced specific actions to ensure safer nightlife environments in order to promote responsible use of licit drugs, to reduce alcohol and drug related harm and to ensure a safe, healthy and enjoyable nightlife.

Target Group

• The project is targeted to recreational setting visitors.

 
Setting

• The intervention is going to be carried out outside selected recreational settings.

 
Intervention/Interfaces

• The project falls under the umbrella of harm reduction but can also be viewed as indicative prevention.
   

Partners/Cooperation

• Partners of the project are:

  Cyprus Anti-Drug Council: as Coordinator and Supervision
  Cyprus Youth Board
  Cyprus Association of Restauranteurs
  Ministry of Health
  Ministry of Communication and Works
  Cyprus Tourist Organization

 
Objectives of the project

1. Reinforcement of the recreational setting’s law, e.g. availability of free drinking water and ice in every club;
2. The targeted distribution of objective information material on drugs and alcohol, including related health, legal, and psychosocial issues, and counselling services information;
3. Creating an official registry for recreational setting’s security personnel to ensure minimum training in first aid delivery;
4. Training of the recreational setting’s personnel, to recognise alcohol and other substance use and other health related issues, to deliver first aid and/or call for paramedics;
5. Preparation of information material; and
6. Outreach work/interventions by trained staff targeting recreational setting visitors that are identified as possible users of psychoactive substances, through handing out harm reduction kits, offering voluntary alcohol test and free transportation if needed. These interventions are going to be delivered at night clubs, alcohol testing points, at first aid departments and tourist areas of the island.

Theoretical Background

• The emergence of the electronic (1) dance music scene in parts of Europe during the late 1980s and 1990s brought with it an increase in the availability and consumption of ‘dance drugs’ such as ecstasy (MDMA) and amphetamines. Initially this development was at the expense of alcohol sales as early electronic dance music events were characterised as alternatives to the mainstream licensed pubs and clubs of the time. However, the drinks manufacturing and marketing industries have tapped into the lucrative dance music market and contributed to its expansion, opening it up to different social groups, especially young women. New alcoholic drinks with distinctive designs are targeted at the youth market, leading to concerns about excessive alcohol consumption in these settings, particularly when taken in combination with illegal drugs.
• Because there is much concern about the use of illegal drugs among young people in dance music settings, less media attention has been paid to alcohol. However, the consumption of alcohol in such settings, often in quantities considered hazardous to health (Parker et al., 1998), and in  combination with stimulant drugs, is a growing cause for concern.
• European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction. Annual Report 2006. http://www.emcdda.europa.eu.
• Parker, H., Aldridge, J. and Measham, F. (1998), Illegal leisure: the normalisation of adolescent recreational drug use, Routledge, London. Cited in: European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction. Annual Report 2006. http://www.emcdda.europa.eu

Method/Measure

• In the first phase, the intervention is going to be carried out outside selected recreational settings. The intervention will later on be expanded to other settings such as alcohol testing points, at first aid departments and tourist areas of the island.

Topics worked out with target group

• The street workers will be able to provide objective information and professional support in order to help club goers to stay safe and make their own healthy choices.

Gender Aspect

• No
  

Migration/Religious Aspects

• No

Participation

• The target group takes part in realisation in sense of encouraging self-responsibility and utilisation of personal resources as they are encouraged to stay safe and make their own healthy choices.

Public Relations

• The project has been campaigned for through the Cyprus Tourist Organization and through the ministry of health.
   

Structure/Time table

Phase 1:  Recreational Settings

• Trained outreach workers will be present outside various night clubs to distribute harm reduction information material on licit and illicit substances including a guide of available services, information on legal issues, distribution of condoms and other material including t-shirts, water etc.
• Voluntary alcoltest will be carried out outside night clubs, upon individual’s consent, to measure alcohol blood level and be able to make an informed decision to drive. In case the individual exceeds the set alcohol limit, he or she can use a free of charge taxi voucher along with the information material mentioned above.  
  

Substainability

• N/A as project is still in its pilot stage.
   

Staff

• Four members of staff will be required who will be specifically trained in street work.
  
  

 Qualification of Staff

• The project will be implemented by specially trained “street workers”.
  
  

 Quality Assurances

• Evaluation process is yet to be finalised but the following indicators will be taken into account. Outcome Indicators including number of emergency calls and Accident and Emergency incidents, number of taxi vouchers used, number of drink drive accidents, number of drug related and alcohol related deaths. Evaluation instruments can include opinions from focus groups on alcohol/other substances consumed, club staff questionnaire or other EMCDDA instruments yet to be agreed.
• Operational Indicators including number of young people approached by outreach workers, number of info material handed out, and number of people not served at the bar due to intoxication.

Documentation/Evaluation

• N/A as project is still in its pilot stage.