AEGiS-14IAC: Hagas la que hagas [whatever you do] Program: Youth rights and risk-reduction in high-schools.

14th International AIDS Conference


Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

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Hagas la que hagas [whatever you do] Program: Youth rights and risk-reduction in high-schools.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. D11105)

Martilotta S, Revsin NS, Vera N, Vilas AN, Bonis AM, Burgos M
Fundacion R.E.D., Buenos Aires, Argentina

ISSUE: Drug use among high school students generate institutional crises that go beyond drug-use itself, giving room to institutional "quick solutions" that only violate their rights (i.e., dismissals, curtailment of extracurricular activities, among other forms of punishment), increasing the risks associated with drug use and hampering early assistance.

DESCRIPTION: Parent, student, and teacher workshops were given at schools where drug use had been detected, so as to foster positive prevention behaviour based on student empowerment strategies regarding drug - use associated risks, i.e., overdose, legal problems, infection, etc. The issues brought forth by each group were then shared among the rest so as to reflect upon their different points of view.

LESSON LEARNED: The student workshops showed four high - incidence factors related to drug use: 1-limited knowledge of the subject and their personal rights within the school, home, and places to hangout in, leaving them highly exposed to different types of risks. 2- prejudiced treatment by health professionals from whom care and health assistance is expected, i.e., in public hospital E.R.'s. 3- little dialogue with their parents leading to not trusting them in high risk situations, including emergencies. 4- limited trust in school authorities, from whom they would only expect a punishing attitude towards drug use. Parent - teacher workshops showed that dealing with such factors fosters positive prevention changes within the school and home.

RECOMMENDATIONS: The advocacy, exercise and respect of youth rights are vital to the reduction of high-risk teenage behaviour within their school and everyday life.

Keywords: AEGIS, Schools, Students, Health Education, Parents, Substance-Related Disorders, Social Behavior, Curriculum, Adolescent Behavior, Adolescent, Human, AdolescenceKWDaegis,schools,students,healtheducation,parents,substance-relateddisorders,socialbehavior,curriculum,adolescentbehavior,adolescent,human,adolescence

020707
D11105

Copyright © 2002 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.