Research in New Zealand shows a culture in which drunkenness and drinking large amounts on each drinking occasion is regarded as acceptable. Three groups in particular – young people, Maori and Pacific – experience a disproportionate amount of alcohol-related harm and are at the greatest risk of incurring that harm. Drinking is embedded in lifestyle clusters and associated behaviours such as peer pressure and the supply of alcohol. Early intervention initiatives need to concentrate on the cause of harm rather than focus on one behavior only i.e. the drinking, and New Zealand law restricts the minimum legal purchase age but does not restrict the drinking of alcohol.
In this legislative environment, young people need to be:
- informed and able to make the right choices about alcohol consumption
- able to keep themselves safe, and
- supported by the right environment.
Our 2011 pilot programme, Thriving in Social Situations – Y’s Up to Alcohol seeks to achieve this. We are piloting this programme in three Wellington schools during 2011.
Our programme aims to:
- Achieve moderate use of alcohol by those young women who choose to drink.
- Provide strategies to reduce alcohol-related harm.
The programme includes:
- Four x 1 hour student sessions
- One x 1 hour parent/caregiver session
Student session 1: Know your mates – The social behavior of young women is influenced by the group they choose to socialise with.
Student session 2: Know your limits - It is generally accepted that low-risk use of alcohol has a place in our society. The question for young women who choose to drink is – how much is enough?
Student session 3: Navigate when things go wrong - Social situations, especially where alcohol is involved, have the potential to raise the risk of violence. Young women need to interpret these situations, recognise the warning signs of trouble and respond appropriately to avoid or defuse the potential for violence or physically protect themselves and others.
Student session 4: Set up the environment for a good time - This theme brings together the self knowledge and ability that young women have acquired from the sessions, to engineer a safe, social environment in which she and her peers can have fun.
Prior to the programme, parents and caregivers are invited to attend a one hour session from which they can:
- Find out about the content of the programme
- Understand their role and steps they can undertake to limit the risk of alcohol abuse by young women.
Facilitation
- Anny da Silva Freitas has a BA in Community Education (Edinburgh) and is in her final year of a Bachelor of Counselling (WelTec). Anny is an accomplished facilitator and has worked in youth and community development for a number of years.
- Darcy Mellsop is a Protect Self Defence instructor for the Wellington region. Darcy has previously provided many seminars and courses through a range of ages, from Girl Guides through to women- only events for Wellington Rape Crisis. Darcy is the only self defence instructor in Wellington that has programmes which are supported by Wellington Rape Crisis.
- Murray Trenberth, CEO of WellTrust, is an adviser to the design of the programme. Murray is a registered teacher, former school principal and specialist in drug and alcohol interventions.
A full evaluation of the pilot programme will be conducted with facilitators, parents, participants and school observers through questionnaires and group discussion. Findings from the evaluation will inform the final review of the programme and the report that will be written for funders.
Participants will also be surveyed three months’ after their participation in the programme to gauge the degree to which the programme has achieved longer term shift in attitudes and behaviours.
Thriving in Social Situations is supported by ACC, Nikau Foundation, TG Macarthy Trust, Wellington City Council, Wellington Methodist Charitable and Educational Endowments Trust and the Winton and Margaret Bear Trust.
The Alcohol Advisory Council (ALAC), Wellington Institute of Technology (WelTec) and WellTrust have provided advice for the programme. Wellington Police have provided written support.
