![\"\"](\"https:\/\/drogriporter.hu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/10\/Odyseus_partyservice-300x169.jpg\")
<\/p>\nRead about the work and experiences of the social workers at Odyseus, Drugreporter\u2019s partner, who provide information about safer drug use and sex practice at festivals and in clubs in Slovakia!<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
It\u2019s Saturday night and trained social workers are heading to one of the popular festivals. Even though they don\u2019t know yet what the night will bring, their task is clear \u2013 to contact their peers at the festival and provide them with information about safer drug use and safer sex, or to distribute condoms. It\u2019s not just about the information itself, it\u2019s about protecting one\u2019s health.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the entrance we\u2019ve seen a group of young people around one girl laid on the ground and the first-aid workers were trying to help her. It was one of the moments when I realised that our consultations on the prevention of drug overdose will be key tonight\u201d\u2013 recalls Nikoleta Bedusova, one of the social workers of C.A. Odyseus. Civic Association Odyseus is the oldest organisation in Slovakia which provides outreach social work. As well as their needle exchange programme and drop-in centre for people who use drugs and sexworkers, Odyseus is attending music events and festivals in Slovakia, to speak with young people who are experimenting with drugs about safer drug use and safer sex practices.<\/p>\n
Within the first contacts with their peers at the festival it\u2019s obvious that drugs are being used among its visitors. The most used drugs are marijuana and ecstasy. Alcohol is a matter of course. \u201cIt\u2019s really great that there is someone doing this job. I didn\u2019t have much information about drugs and these brochures and consultations are better than some \u2018friendly advice\u2019\u201d – comments one festival visitor (19 y.o.).<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
What could happen if I combine drugs? How to prevent an overdose? Why should I use the condoms? What is a \u201cbad trip\u201d? These and many other questions were answered during the festival.<\/p>\n
In the summer of 2018 Odyseus could not miss the biggest Slovak festival Pohoda. During 3 days of concerts and parties, workers at Odyseus contacted 1,412 people, gave 741 consultations about safer drug use, and led 861 workshops regarding safer sex.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost people who visit us already have an experience with drugs. What was surprising, however, was how many young people did not have any information about drugs, even though they use them regularly. And that’s why Odyseus is going to these events to speak openly with the young people about drugs. Because drug prevention in terms of drug intimidation and prohibition does not provide real and truthful information for people, which they can use in case they finally decide to try drugs.\u201d – Dominika Jasekova, director of C.A. Odyseus.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/drogriporter.hu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/10\/Odyseus_partyserv_Dominika-225x300.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Outreach work at the clubs, festivals, or music events reduces the harms related to drugs, protects one\u2019s health, and helps the organisers of such events. According to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, it is up to 10 times more likely that young people in dance events will try out stimulant drugs than those who do not normally attend such environments. Almost every third young person in Slovakia has tried an illegal substance at least once. Keeping young people under lock and key is not a solution, and so Odyseus chooses a “responsible and open about drugs with youth” approach and continues its work with young people.<\/p>\n
Dominika Jasekova, Civic Association Odyseus<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Read about the work and experiences of the social workers at Odyseus, Drugreporter\u2019s partner, who provide information about safer drug use and sex practice at festivals and in clubs in Slovakia!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1190,"featured_media":10598,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2900],"tags":[],"countries":[2700],"section":[],"video-author":[],"drug":[],"archive":[3219,3222,3228],"video-series":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-10597","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-articles","8":"countries-slovakia-en","9":"archive-european-drug-policy","10":"archive-harm-reduction","11":"archive-overdose-prevention","12":"entry"},"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/drogriporter.hu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2018\/10\/Osysaus_Partyserv_head.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Dominika Jasekova","author_link":"https:\/\/drogriporter.hu\/en\/author\/dominika-jasekova\/"},"yoast_head":"\n