The Pompidou Group of the Council of Europe successfully delivered the first phase of its Training of Trainers (ToT) programme, titled Introduction to Prevention of Drugs and Psychoactive Substances. These cascade trainings, held on 7-8 December and 14-15 December 2024 in Kakheti region, aimed to introduce teachers to the strategies and evidence-based approaches in drug prevention as their role of being in daily contact with children, as well as techniques to address stress and trauma-related challenges among children and adolescents. Through effective and evidence-based drug prevention approaches, the ToT empowered teachers with essential skills and knowledge for fostering safer and healthier learning environments.

Participants explored international prevention standards, including those established by the UNODC and European frameworks, while also discussing family-centred, environment-specific preventive interventions. In addition, the training emphasised the critical role of epidemiology in shaping effective drug prevention efforts.

The ToT programme aims to advance the implementation of Georgia’s Drug Prevention Strategy (2021-2026), focusing on reducing the vulnerability of young people to psychoactive substances through targeted, evidence-based interventions. By empowering teachers as key actors in drug prevention, the initiative lays the groundwork for sustainable progress in fostering protective factors within vulnerable communities.

Furthermore, to strengthen co-operation and active engagement among different entities of the Ministry of Education and Science, teachers were introduced to the evidence-based programmes and interventions for children and their families implemented by the Psychosocial Service Centre of the Office of the Resource Officers of Educational Institutions.

The second phase of the ToT programme is planned for the first quarter of 2025, aiming to further advance expertise in drug prevention science.

The training was organised under the Pompidou Group Project, "Strengthening the Role of Key Actors in Drug Prevention". The Project is funded through the Council of Europe Action Plan for Georgia 2024-2027.