Topic 4 –



Legalisation of Marijuana Increases Use Amongst Youth



A major new study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry shows that state legalization of recreational marijuana significantly increases past-month marijuana use among youth (13%) and young adults (22%). Past-month use is a key indicator of frequent use.



This comprehensive review contradicts industry claims that legalization doesn’t increase youth usage. Systematic reviews like this are highly credible because they analyze all available data and reduce bias. The findings highlight real, negative impacts of marijuana legalization on public health, especially for young people. The marijuana industry’s push for legalization fuels youth use, marketing high-potency THC products that are far stronger than the marijuana of previous decades. Opposing legalization is essential to protect youth, families, and public health nationwide.



Topic 5 – 



Youth Prevention Influencers – for schools, tertiary education and sports groups

 Rotary Action Group for Addiction Prevention (https://www.rag-ap.org) that was developed in collaboration with:

• the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime UNODC https://www.unodc.org/unodc/prevention/)
• the World Federation Against Drugs (WFAD https://wfad.se)

Why?

This provides an alternative to the rapid obsolescence factor of current prevention programs, which not only become out of date quickly, but also lose their evidence-based status, in the longer term, due to lack of re-evaluation.



The project also closely aligns with mental health issues, as addiction prevention is part of the field of Mental Health.



How does the PYI’s program Work?

The Youth Prevention Influencers project invests in young people. They should be between the ages of 18-25 can be selected by Rotary clubs in collaboration with professional prevention organizations. They must be committed to sharing their knowledge of addiction harms and to learning about possible routes of prevention. The ability to communicate and related to their peer group and local community should be demonstrated. Then they are:

• trained in the principles of addiction and prevention by trained professional prevention workers.
• Following their training, the candidate Youth Prevention Influencers are supported by the Rotary Club which selected them to develop and implement their own actions in their own (youth) environment and in their own way.

The program provides for scientific follow-up by Hogent's research centre Substance use and Psychosocial Risk Behaviors (SUPRB (https://www.hogent.be/onderzoekscentra/substance-use-and-psychosocial-risk-behaviours/) research centre, enabling young people to learn quickly and adjust their project, even in full action.



Following successful training they may be invited to attend the United Nations meeting of the Youth Prevention Influencers in Vienna, where the young people brainstorm among themselves, learn from each other, evaluate and adjust in order to continue working on new ideas. For more go to: https://www.rag-ap.org/en

How are candidates nominated in Oceania?



Topic 6 – 



Family and School Resources, Websites and Books