The Child and Adolescent Resource Centre (CARC) developed the “Healthy Futures Programme”, an addiction prevention programme commissioned by the Ministry of Health of Latvia. The programme was designed for young people aged 13–25 who had come to the attention of state or municipal authorities for the first time due to substance use and/or related unlawful or risky behaviour.
The programme was developed as a practical tool for professionals working with young people, enabling them to provide early support related to substance use. Its aim was to help young people stop or reduce substance use before it developed into a more serious problem, while also preventing or reducing the risk of adverse health and social consequences associated with substance use and addiction.
The “Healthy Futures Programme” helped young people learn how to cope with negative thoughts about themselves, others and the world around them, as well as how to manage anxiety, stress and difficult emotions. Participants were also introduced to healthy ways of managing impulsivity and regulating emotions. The programme included both individual and group sessions for young people, as well as sessions involving their parents.
The programme combined evidence-based assessment, elements of motivational interviewing, psychotherapeutic techniques, art therapy and positive psychology methods. Detailed descriptions of sessions and exercises, together with suggested discussion questions, were included in a practical manual for programme facilitators.
The programme also recognised the important role of the family. The manual included guidance for individual consultations with parents aimed at assessing family-related risk factors and developing individual plans to address them. It also included group sessions designed to strengthen parents’ communication skills and provide support with parenting-related challenges.
The “Healthy Futures Programme” was developed by a multidisciplinary team of addiction prevention specialists, child and adult psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, and cognitive behavioural therapy specialists from the Child and Adolescent Resource Centre.
The programme is available online free of charge on the Latvian public health information portal Esparveselibu.lv.
The programme was developed within the framework of the European Social Fund project “Comprehensive Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Measures” (Project No. 9.2.4.1/16/I/001).
