Prevention of hazardous substance use among refugees – digital tools for the workforce in refugee aid

Background

Refugees represent a vulnerable and structurally disadvantaged population for risky and dependent forms of substance use due to their experiences in their country of origin and during their flight, as well as various social, psychological and socio-cultural stressors in their country of arrival. In order to meet these challenges, the research and development project PraeWi (funded by the German Research…) addresses the living situation of refugees and helps to create more health-promoting living environments. In the setting of shared accommodation, a participatory addiction prevention concept was developed and implemented in shared accommodations. This concept contains prevention measures for refugees, but also various tools designed for the workforce in refugee aid.

Methods

The workforce in refugee aid as well as refugees residing in shared accommodations were actively and systematically involved in decision-making processes within the framework of steering committees, working groups and focus groups, and, for example, accompanied and shaped the pilot implementation of the prevention concept from multiple perspectives with a team in order to adapt measures of the addiction prevention concept based on their experiences.

Results

During concept development the workforce in refugee aid reported their challenging situation with special work schedules, lack of personnel, staff turnover and the multifaceted support needs regarding the high psychosocial distress of the refugees. In a participatory project, members of the workforce contributed their experiences and perspectives during concept developing. As a result a guideline and an e-learning-tool for the workforce in refugee aid were developed which fit into the challenging working conditions and provide information about many topics which are related to hazardous substance use, trauma and flight. Additionally, a peer education program for refugees in shared accommodations was developed to extend the workforce with peer support.

Conclusions

The participatory design of the project, especially in the development and implementation processes, was very helpful to design the prevention measures for refugees and the tools for the workforce in refugee aid suitable for their living and working conditions. Peer support extends the workforce in refugee aid and triggers empowerment processes, as people experience their own knowledge, backgrounds and experiences as significant and important for shaping their own health-promoting living environment.