The Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) and community groups are rolling out expanded efforts to prevent substance abuse among youth through new online initiatives and community engagement.
According to IAS, their collaboration with community organizations and technology companies has helped them reach out to around a dozen potential service users.
The bureau said five drug abuse registrations in the first half of this year involved individuals under the age of 21.
In response, IAS is rolling out a new online campaign, inviting influencers and celebrities to share anti-drug messages with younger audiences.
As cited in a TDM report, Tong Chan U, head of the Drug Abuse Prevention Division, explained the rationale behind this strategy: “This year, in addition to the conventional promotional activities, we will adopt an approach tailored to the younger demographic to spread key messages associated with the prevention of substance abuse.”
The campaign will involve a partnership with the General Association of Chinese Students of Macau, leveraging social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook to engage with the target audience.
The importance of mental health care in drug prevention was also emphasized by the Association for Rehabilitation of Drug Abusers of Macau.
Rute Borges, Coordinator of the Be Cool Project, said, “It is our objective to encourage a positive mental state and to facilitate continued engagement with this objective.”
“Furthermore, we facilitate the expression of feelings among young people, given the inherent challenges of the teenage period.”
The association’s representative raised concerns about the increasing number of new psychoactive substances not legally banned in Macau, making them more easily accessible.
The Be Cool Project Open Dance Competition uses dance to promote drug prevention messages and healthy lifestyles among the younger generation. Victoria Chan
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