The significance of youth work for young people at risk for drug problems (2002)

The ÖBIG was commissioned by the Department for Youth Policy of the Federal Ministry of social security and generations (FMSSG) to carry out a study on young people in risk for drug problems in the context of youth work outside schools. The study was based on the results of the study “Youth and drugs - problems and needs for prevention”, which has been carried out in the year 2001 and focused on the possibilities and limits of the principle of integration in youth work outside schools.

The results show that in order to be able to deal with the young people at risk in a constructive way, youth work outside schools (youth centers, dispersed youth work) needs a clear framework comprising multiple factors such as legal security, public support, specific assignments, sufficient as well as long-term financial support by the responsible bodies. The staff of youth services also needs adequate training and continuous support. As the young people at risk have a “bunch” of complex problems, it is necessary to build a network of youth work, drug help services and other relevant institutions (e.g. police). These cooperative efforts should be optimized by defining the responsibility for co-ordination. The best way of co-operation should be elaborated based on a needs assessment and strengthened by agreements between all parties involved. The study also shows different models of integrative approaches and cooperation by describing concrete examples.

Download in German: Die Rolle der außerschulischen Jugendarbeit

Client: European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction; Austrian Federal Ministry of Social Security and Generations

Editor: ÖBIG (Austrian Health Institute)

Place of publication: Vienna, Austria

Year of publication: 2002

Number of pages: 36 pages

Reimbursement of expenses: € 5,00

Available in German, electronic version available free of charge; EUR 5,– (Austria) | EUR 8,– (foreign countries)