How do you, as a 14 or 15 year old, safely deal with alcohol and peer pressure during major events such as the TT? About 180 third-year students from DCTerra Assen started working on that question this week during the SafeVibes project.
SafeVibes reached approximately 180 students and that is necessary, according to Harry Heijes of Vaart Welzijn. “Many students aged around 14 or 15 still drink alcohol during the TT, for example. We want to give them a little bit of awareness and also identify the risks of alcohol consumption.”
The project is organized by Addiction Care North Netherlands (VNN), Terra VO Assen and Vaart Welzijn. The students participate in an interactive afternoon. “The students go to a theater performance about peer pressure and follow various workshops spread over three cafes in Assen,” says Heijes.
“The GGD gives a workshop on hearing damage, Bureau Halt tells something about alcohol and peer pressure and the students are asked questions to which they have to respond.” During the afternoon, only non-alcoholic drinks were offered.
Willem Hilberts of VNN agrees with the reports that alcohol use among young people is increasing. “We see it happening around the TT and other major events that young people end up in hospital due to excessive alcohol consumption.”
The project is therefore not only interesting for young people, according to Hilberts. “There are more and more studies about the damage of alcohol on the adolescent brain. We are therefore trying to gain more awareness among parents, because there are now many more studies than before.”
The goal for Hilberts is clear. “We actually want to create a little awareness, but you also need the help of parents and professionals. We try to achieve that goal in this fun way.”
Not only the children were informed, the parents also came to school during a parent evening to inform them about the themes. “We hope that this will also create dialogue between the child and the parent.”
It is no small matter for a parent to receive a message that their child is in a coma due to alcohol consumption. “If a child under the age of 18 contracts alcohol poisoning, there will automatically be a conversation with VNN. We will then really look together at the cause and the future.”
If the event is well received, Heijes believes there is every reason not to keep it to one edition. “We are going to evaluate it carefully and it is very likely that if everyone likes it, we will be back next year.”