Campaigns encouraging young people to stay away from excessive alcohol consumption and substance abuse are important. But prevention cannot begin and end with telling young people what not to do. We must also understand what sometimes drives them towards these behaviours. The experience of a young man who turned to alcohol after his concerns about bullying were repeatedly dismissed offers an important lesson. He had spoken. The adults around him simply did not listen closely enough. That should concern us. Young people face pressures that adults may sometimes consider trivial: bullying, rejection, loneliness, academic pressure, unemployment, relationship difficulties, family expectations or simply the struggle to fit in. To an adult, some of these problems may appear temporary or mundane. To a young person experiencing them, however, they can be overwhelming. Responses such as “toughen up”, “get over it” or “you will be fine” can close the door to further conversation. Worse, they can push young people to seek understanding and belonging elsewhere — sometimes among peers and in environments where alcohol and drugs are readily available. Government initiatives such as TunyweLess and Sober Generation are important interventions. They have helped raise awareness about harmful drinking and substance abuse and encourage young people to make healthier choices. But government campaigns alone cannot solve a problem whose causes often begin much closer to home. Parents must listen. Teachers must listen. Employers, religious institutions, community leaders, health professionals and the private sector must also play their part. Preventing substance abuse must be a collective responsibility, not simply a government programme. Crucially, young people themselves must be part of the solution. Too often, adults design interventions for young people without sufficiently asking them what they are experiencing or what support they actually need. Young people understand many of the pressures affecting their generation. Their voices should help shape the programmes intended to protect them. The consequences of getting this wrong are serious. Excessive alcohol consumption and substance abuse can lead to addiction and lasting physical and mental health complications, including liver and cardiovascular disease, neurological damage, depression and anxiety. They can also derail education, damage relationships and diminish future opportunities. Young people certainly need to hear clear warnings about alcohol and drugs. But they need more than warnings. They need adults who notice when something is wrong, spaces where they can speak without fear of ridicule or punishment, and support before their struggles become crises. Sometimes prevention begins with a simple question: “What are you going through?” The important part is what comes next: listening to the answer.
