CHildren AMplified Prevention Services (CHAMPS): A Unique Initiative to Amplify the Resilience of Children from Birth to Adolescence to Prevention the Use of Drugs and Other Psychoactive Substances

Authors

1.Dr. Wadih Maalouf (⚑ Austria) 1

2.Mr. Ali Yassine (⚑ Austria) 1

3.Ms. Giovanna Campello (⚑ Austria) 1

1. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

Abstract

Children (people under the age of 18) represent around 25% of the world population. Whereas earlier ages of substance use are particularly problematic in terms of consequences, evidence exists per the UNODC WHO International Standards on Drug Use Prevention, that interventions can be effectively initiated as early as infancy or before. Investing in evidence-based prevention means addressing vulnerabilities and fostering a healthy and safe development. While individual interventions are effective per the standards, systems of prevention can bring along a multiplicative prevention effect. Very few such systems of prevention showcasing the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and return on investment of such prevention exist.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime developed a new drug prevention framework called CHAMPS aiming to amplify the resilience of children from birth onwards to prevent drugs and other consequences. Amplification is done through a set of age appropriate universal, selective and indicated level responses to all children in a selected geographical region. Also by bringing better coordination between governmental, academic, CSOs, Private Public Partnerships and international organizations at national level.

The CHAMPS initiative is availed in line with the Commission on Narcotic Drugs resolution 65/4 on Promoting Comprehensive and Scientific Evidence-Based Early Prevention. CHAMPS aims to demonstrate, through a selected group of 10 model countries per wave, the value of shifting the paradigm and culture of prevention. Each wave is over 6 years. The first year focuses on the mapping out and assessment of services through the Review of Prevention Services (RePS) tool, aligning them with the UNODC/WHO Standards. The five following years focus on the implementation & M&E of the system. In its first wave, CHAMPS aims to reach 10 million children in the 10 model countries. 

This presentation will give an overview of CHAMPS and what it would bring to the field of prevention.