ABSTRACT
‘Youth as Active Agents in Prevention’ is a project based on a Positive Youth Development framework that enables young university students to be involved in prevention and take an active role. The project provides them with training and practical experience in implementing an evidence-based prevention programme (PCF 12–16)—a family-focused strategy for the selective prevention of drug abuse in vulnerable adolescents. This chapter presents (i) a training protocol to boost students’ skills and proficiency for future professional relationships with other young people, and (ii) a pilot study on skills and proficiency levels so as to develop more meaningful learning strategies in designing more effective prevention activities. The students' proficiency profiles provide information on their strengths so that training can be improved to empower young university students, especially in task development and management. Proficiency in interpersonal and intrapersonal skills and environmental aspects were identified as strengths and students achieved notable improvements in their understanding of prevention content, their ability to use it, and their awareness of its importance. The participation of young students in the project contributed to their academic, professional and personal development, in addition to the awareness of the project's potential for them to act as role models for adolescents.
