LDAT and Planet Youth

The Planet Youth model was developed in Iceland over 25 years ago and has been successful in improving wellbeing and reducing rates of alcohol and other drug use among young people in Iceland.

Planet Youth addresses the risk and protective factors that predict adolescent substance use, helping prevent the problem before it arises. These risk and protective factors fall into the four main categories of: parenting, peer group, general wellbeing and sports and recreation.

In Australia, the Alcohol and Drug Foundation (ADF) partnered with Planet Youth to trial this model through the Local Drug Action Team (LDAT) program in seven different regions in New South Wales and South Australia. This was part of a broader project to understand the applicability of the Planet Youth approach in the Australian context.

The Pilot has concluded and the ADF is using learnings to benefit its broader Local Drug Action Team program, which supports over 270 LDATs nationally to develop evidence-based Community Action Plans to reduce harms caused by alcohol and other drugs.

Read more

• Planet Youth pilot sites are reaping rewards
• Blue Mountains LDAT works with Planet Youth

In Australia, Planet Youth is funded by the Australian Government, Department of Health and delivered through the ADF’s LDAT Program. In South Australia, Planet Youth model has been extended and is also supported by the South Australian Government, Wellbeing SA.