Changwon City Operates Educational Program for Prevention of Three Major Addictions Among Adolescents

Proactive Prevention of Drinking, Smoking, and Gambling Operated Until the End of November

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Saeyan] Changwon City, Gyeongnam announced on the 9th that starting in March, it will conduct visiting youth addiction prevention education (drinking, smoking, gambling) targeting 5,000 students from 20 schools in the district.

According to the 2020 youth statistics, among middle and high school students in 2019, 15 out of 100 students (15%) had consumed alcohol within the past 30 days, and 7 students (6.7%) had smoked within the past 30 days.

Specifically, in 2019, 8 out of 100 middle school students (7.6%) and 22 high school students (21.8%) had consumed alcohol within the past 30 days.

It was also found that 3 out of 100 middle school students (3.2%) and 10 high school students (9.9%) had smoked within the past 30 days in 2019.

This program will be implemented for 20 selected elementary, middle, and high schools that apply in advance by March 15. It will operate from March through the end of November.

The program aims to help youths recognize the risks of addiction (drinking, smoking, gambling) during adolescence and learn prevention and coping methods to protect themselves. The education will be conducted by the Masan Addiction Management Integrated Support Center.

The youth addiction prevention education program covers the physical and emotional harms of drinking, the effects of smoking on the body, and the characteristics of gambling addiction.

Jang Gyusam, Director of Childcare and Youth Affairs, said, "I hope that adolescents in their growth phase can spend a healthy youth period by not being exposed to harmful environments and by having a correct understanding of addiction to drinking, smoking, and gambling."