The 10 - hour Programme
PROBLEMS
SOLUTIONS
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Alcohol and other drug use can cause problems in the long term and also over the course of a night out.
Prime For Life® (PFL) offers participants an understanding of both health and impairment problems that can sometimes happen over time and also in the short term.
Some programmes try to tell people what to do and force them into change.
Prime for life uses the individuals motivation to foster long-lasting change. Prime for life helps participants to re examine their own perception of risks related to alcohol and other drug choices.
Other approaches use strategies such as lecturing or scare tactics which only serve to make people uncomfortable and resistant to change.
Prime for life has been designed in a way which nurtures a collaborative learning experience where participants are encouraged to make informed low risk choices.
Many programmes are based on commonly held, but inaccurate ideas about drug and alcohol problems and how people make changes.
Prime for life uses a protocol which is based on over 20 years of research evidence to deliver fact based education so that participants can make their own mind up based on the truth.
Some approaches and organisation use punitive measures in order to expose people and their problems.
While completing Prime for life nobody at any time will be asked to disclose why they have attended. Why people attend is not as important as what they leave with.
Some courses operate on an assumption that any problems which have occurred for people while they were under the influence means that the person is addicted.
During the Prime for life programme no assumptions are made about the nature of the participant’s drug or alcohol use. The only assumption which is made is that all humans want to protect the things they value and avoid problems.
Some courses operate on an assumption that any problems which have occurred for people while they were under the influence means that the person is addicted.
During the Prime for life programme no assumptions are made about the nature of the participant’s drug or alcohol use. The only assumption which is made is that all humans want to protect the things they value and avoid problems.
Why do we use Prime For Life®?
Prime for life - Ireland (PFL-IRL) has specifically selected Prime For Life® (PFL) due to the vast amount of research which underpins the protocols within the programme. PFL-IRL also uses PFL as it has been shown, both independently, and internally to foster positive long-term change. DPFL-IRL has chosen PFL as it uses a non-judgmental, non-preachy or punitive approach to help people achieve the changes that they want. Full information of the efficacy of PFL can be found at the developers site- https://www.primeforlife.org/
Prime for Life
Main Points
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Prime For Life is a motivational persuasion approach to encouraging change in high risk drug and alcohol use.
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Using participants own stated values, PFL encourages reflection on how to best nourish and protect these important aspects of their lives.
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PFL presents drug and alcohol problems as “lifestyle related health problems” and cleverly uses heart disease as an example of how to prevent lifestyle related health problems which is then applied to drug and alcohol use.
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PFL does not require disclosure so participants need not share why they are in attendance.
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PFL does not use scare tactics, judgments nor does it lecture participants.
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PFL is presented in an interactive manner with participants working at exercises within their workbook at regular intervals so as to personalise their learning experience.
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PFL does not make assumptions about participant’s drug or alcohol use, instead it only assumes that we all want to protect our values and prevent problems
