The impact of illicit drug abuse in the community is related to trade and corruption networks that jeopardize the security of citizens. While the prevention and health promotion efforts involve organized civil society with the forces in charge of domestic security (Armed Forces, National Police, Judiciary) the peaceful relationship shall be strengthen with democratic security models.
Drug abuse is related to different risk behaviors such as gangs, hooligans, delinquency, promiscuity, etc. and must be addressed from an integral intervention perspective. That is why that training of promoters in risk behavior prevention (drug abuse, gangs, violence, others) and the promotion of peaceful life-styles involve social players in charge of the security of citizens (police, "serenazgo" - municipal security force, community leaders, armed forces, etc). This strategic alliance between civil society and police - armed forces, makes possible a shared responsibility on protection activities against drug issues.

OBJECTIVES

GENERAL

· To organize and get the commitment of grass-roots organizations, armed forces and police, municipalities security personnel, and the civil society in prevention efforts against drug abuse and the promotion of citizens´ security in the country.

SPECIFIC

· Sensitize and motivate civil society organizations, police and armed forces on drug issues.
· Training of promoters on drug abuse prevention and promotion of citizens´ security.
· Organize and participate in inter-institutional worktables with grass-root organizations, armed forces and the police.
· Brindar asesoría técnica para organizar e implementar programas preventivos y realizar actividades de proyección a la comunidad.
· Prepare guidelines and dissemination materials for training and implementation of prevention activities for prevention promoters on drug abuse and the promotion of citizens´ security.
· Create a support network between civil society and law-enforcement institutions.

BENEFITED POPULATION

Armed-forces personnel, police, serenazgo, municipal police, grass-root leaders, social promoters, organized youth.

SCOPE

Domestic Level.

STRATEGIES

In order to implement an action plan to prevent drug abuse and promote citizens´ security, strategic alliances with civil society, as well as with police and armed forces shall be established. This includes the work with high commands and community leaders, as well as with medium commands, social promoters having a multiplying role in the area in which they are going to participate.

In order to achieve this strategy, the Ministry of the Interior gives its support by means of an agreement containing explicit commitments of both institutions.

The most important strategies are the following:

1. Information presentations requested by the pertinent security body (serenazgo, police, armed forces, organized community).
2. Training courses for promoters on drug-abuse prevention and citizens´ security promotion.
3. Work plans design in coalition, by the participation of civil society and law-enforcement bodies.
4. Signing of agreements of the commitment that guarantee the development of activities.
5. On-going evaluation and monitoring.
6. Empowerment of prevention practices by organized civil society, police and armed forces.

WORK MATERIALS:

· Training module with the National Police.
Addressed to police personnel, mainly with high-risk areas police stations.
· Module: Projects and Prevention Programs Design. Addressed to police personnel and organized civil society.
· Module: Drug Abuse Prevention. Addressed to Citizens´ Security personnel (serenazgo, municipal police) of the municipalities. Módulo: Prevención del Uso Indebido de Drogas.
· Training Copybooks: Promoters Training on Drug Issues Prevention. Addressed to social promoters, police promoters, grass-root organization leaders, and municipal personnel in charge of citizens´ security.