PMASA — Peer Mentors Against Substance Abuse
Social Challenge Addressed
Lithuania faces high rates of alcohol, tobacco, e-cigarettes, sedatives, and illicit drug use among adolescents. Substance abuse among young people is largely driven by peer pressure and normalised risk-taking behaviours in social groups. The consequences include addiction, poor academic performance, mental health deterioration, and increased vulnerability to long-term social exclusion. Existing school-based prevention programmes are often top-down and insufficiently connected to the peer dynamics that actually drive youth behaviour.
Description of the Solution / Business Idea
PMASA trains influential students as certified peer mentors who lead substance-abuse prevention clubs, educational sessions, and awareness campaigns within their own schools. Drawing on behaviour change science and social norms theory, trained peer mentors are more trusted and effective than adult-led programmes. The model is designed to be self-sustaining: each cohort of mentors trains the next, creating a growing network of young prevention advocates. The pilot phase (EUR 35,000–40,000) covers three schools in Vilnius.
We are looking for:
- Funding
- Visibility / media
- Access to users / communities
We can help with:
- Expertise in behaviour change and youth development
- Community networks
- Access to school environments
- Peer exchange
- Experience with funding
- Mentoring or coaching
- Cross-border collaboration
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals
Project Details
-
Status:
Pilot / prototype -
Development Stage:
Prototype or Pilot -
Estimated Budget:
€35,000 – €40,000 (pilot, 3 schools) -
Region:
LT011 - Vilnius (Lithuania) -
Country:
Lithuania