The education provision of the SAFEYOU TOOL comprises twelve Sessions grouped in eight stand-alone Themes. Taken all together, these sessions explore PAES use in a broad environmental, political and social societal context. The overarching aim of the education provision of the SAFE YOU TOOL is to increase the health literacy of young people about PAES by developing both cognitive and social skills underpinning the motivation and ability of individuals to gain access, to understand and to use information in ways which support considerate self-care for long-term health and well-being.
It is built on the importance of knowledge and revolves around our slogan “Know your body. Know your substances.” – which promotes making informed, evidence-based and holistic decisions about PAES that takes not only the performance- and image enhancing substances but also their effects on a young person’s physical and psychological well-being into account in a broader societal and environmental context. In this endeavour, the SAFEYOU TOOL recognises that PAES use is not a categorical, all-or-nothing decision but it manifests on a continuum along which individual decisions are made. In this continuum, some substances are more acceptable than others; or some substances may even be used in order to stay away from other substances.
Each Theme is supported by one or two detailed session plans, assorted teaching materials (e.g., PowerPoint presentation slides, suggested readings, case studies and videos) as well as assessment guides and assessment tools. The sessions adopt a critical view in order to encourage and maintain an open dialogue – as opposed to giving a lecture – about PAES use.
Within the Themes, each Session is designed for 45 minutes contact time with additional tasks set outside the workshop settings to facilitate independent learning. Although the Themes are primarily designed to be delivered by a facilitator, they are also suitable for self-directed learning.
The detailed Session plans and supporting teaching materials can be used stand alone or in any sequence or combination. The Session plans and teaching materials are freely downloadable from the SAFE YOU Project website (www.safeyou.eu).
