euro peers - Methodological Approach
The training sessions for the peers took place in the participating countries in spring 1997. In schools in the participating regions, one girl and boy were selected from each school class taking part, who were intended to act as opinion leaders in their respective class on the subject of addiction and drugs. Between twelve and twenty opinion leaders were selected in each school. The selection was based on an anonymous questionnaire, in which the school students assessed their fellow pupils in terms of their qualities as peers. Those who were mentioned most often with the most favourable characteristics were selected by the project coordinators as peers. However, it was very rare indeed for particular pupils to be repeatedly named who stood clearly out from the rest.
The 12 to 14-year-old opinion leaders were trained outside regular school hours during a period lasting up to four weekends. The training was not specific to drugs. Rather, the focus was on establishing the factors that could protect against the development of addiction. The training topics included:
- Increasing the young people's knowledge of addiction, addiction prevention and their own addictive behaviour
- Establishing protective aspects in terms of shaping lifestyle
- Providing advice in dealing with conflicts and crises
- Examining the prevailing culture of gratification and intoxication and the possibilities for enhancing an individual's enjoyment skills.
The aim of the training programme was that the young people taking part would then discuss and report on their experiences in the school classes and thus have a preventive effect. The peer training programme was subsequently followed by an experimental period lasting between eight and ten weeks in which the peers were active in their respective classroom settings. In standardised follow-up discussions, any changes in the groups were evaluated.
The youths, the schools and the teachers were monitored and supported by professionals from the euro net cooperation partners. The parents were also provided with information. The impact of the peer training sessions was scientifically evaluated by surveying the peers and their fellow pupils.
german