The Choose-life stems from the recognition that childhood and adolescence are critical stages of personal and social development, often characterised by risky behaviours such as alcohol, tobacco and drug use, and criminal activity, and further influenced by peer pressure. Many young people grow up in disadvantaged, marginalised or dysfunctional environments, which predisposes them to substance abuse as a way of coping with social, physical and psychological challenges.

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Around 26.5% of young Europeans (aged 15–19) are at risk of poverty or social exclusion, with only 39% who report high levels of personal satisfaction. Alcohol and drug use is high, with people starting at an increasingly early age, a situation exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and socio-economic factors.

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Addiction is not merely a disease, but a symptom of complex biopsychosocial factors. There is a lack of universal or selective preventive interventions that address root causes – health literacy, social-emotional skills, a sense of belonging within the community, and robust social policies – rather than mere information campaigns or punitive approaches.

To gain an understanding of young people’s perspectives on psychosocial well-being, with a view to informing a programme aimed at preventing drug-related risky behaviour.

Train 120 youth workers from grassroots organisations to implement drug abuse prevention initiatives.

Implement a prevention programme for 240 young people in vulnerable situations (aged 13–18) through non-formal education, healthy leisure activities and European mobility schemes.

Empowering young representatives to contribute to youth social welfare policies by establishing local youth councils and engaging in dialogue with local and EU decision-makers.

To raise community awareness of evidence-based preventive methods, by promoting health literacy and youth-centred policies.

Young people with greater knowledge of drugs, social-emotional skills (self-esteem, resilience, critical thinking) and a reduction in risky behaviour; improved psychosocial well-being and a sense of belonging to the community.

More competent youth workers to engage in prevention work, with strengthened transnational networks.

Youth social policies that are more inclusive, with youth-informed proposals adopted locally and debated at EU level (e.g. a manifesto for welfare services).

Communities with greater awareness of prevention, reducing stigma and promoting healthy leisure activities (reach: 7,000 people via the campaign).​

Initial survey: 300 questionnaires completed by young people + 30 interviews with experts; identification of 30 examples of good practice in biopsychosocial prevention.

Local training sessions: 120 youth workers trained in the content developed as part of the Choose-life project.

Choose-life prevention programme: 240 young people on the programme (drug awareness + soft skills) + the Cool-fun toolkit (leisure activities: creating, moving, discovering, playing).

International Youth Camp (Poland): 36 young people + 12 youth workers on EU mobility schemes.

Youth-Choose Council (YCC): 30 young people on local councils; 14 forums (12 local + 2 EU); 6 dialogues with decision-makers + a roundtable in Brussels.

Awareness campaign: 12 social coffee mornings (for parents and teachers), youth-led vlogs, closing events (480 participants)

Choose-life Curriculum: an e-learning course on drug literacy, soft skills and health effects.

Cool-fun Toolkit: catalogue of healthy leisure activities (create/move/discover/play).

Choose-life Handbook for Youth Workers: a practical and theoretical guide using non-formal and biopsychosocial methods.

Website and promotional materials: Accessible OER, vlogs, infographics.

YCC Manifesto: youth-led policy proposals for young people’s social wellbeing.