Greece has launched the UN’s international CHAMPS programme (Children Amplified Prevention Services) to prevent youth addictions and delinquency, under the Ministry of Health and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), with the National Organisation for Prevention and Treatment of Addictions (EOPEA) acting as coordinator.
CHAMPS introduces a structured, long-term prevention model focusing on children from birth through adolescence. It addresses all stages of development and the child’s environment, including family, school, community, and the state, while reinforcing protective factors and reducing multiple risk factors such as substance use, delinquency, school dropout, social exclusion, and mental health challenges.
The programme promotes cooperation among state agencies, local authorities, NGOs, research and educational institutions, and international organisations. It implements internationally recognised standards and best practices based on scientific evidence, in line with UNODC and WHO guidelines.
EOPEA held a working group meeting in Athens to coordinate the programme’s implementation in Greece.
Deputy Health Minister Dimitris Vartzopoulos, responsible for Mental Health and Addictions, said that institutional, unified prevention forms a key pillar of public health. He emphasised that timely, scientifically grounded interventions are critical for protecting youth from addictions and delinquent behaviour. He also highlighted EOPEA’s role in applying modern, effective prevention policies and implementing innovative international programmes like CHAMPS.
EOPEA President Athanasios Theocharis said the programme represents a strategic shift in prevention. “CHAMPS is not just another programme. It strengthens children’s mental, social, and emotional resilience from birth to adolescence to prevent substance use and other high-risk behaviours. Children are now active participants, the future ‘champions,’ the future ‘CHAMPS,’” he stated.
Dr Wadih Maalouf, global coordinator of UNODC prevention programmes, presented the programme’s philosophy, structure, and strategic significance.
Patras was selected as the pilot city due to specific socioeconomic risk factors affecting youth, including drug trafficking, school dropout, substance use in schools, vulnerable social groups, and higher juvenile delinquency rates. The programme aims to integrate family, school, community, and state efforts into a coordinated system, identifying gaps and setting priorities to promote children’s psychosocial health and resilience.
By applying an internationally recognised and sustainable prevention model, CHAMPS can eventually expand nationwide, enhancing children and adolescents’ inclusion in schools and society. “Greece invests in prevention and youth psychosocial health, shaping a safer, healthier, and more resilient social future,” the programme statement said.
