Augustów: Police launch anti-drug campaign

A new anti-drug awareness initiative has begun at the Miejski Dom Kultury in Augustów. The focus was a meeting between local police officers and students from Primary School No. 3. The event marked the launch of a campaign designed to show young people the risks of intoxicants early on and to strengthen their ability to resist dangerous offers.

Holding the meeting in a cultural center rather than at a police station was part of the approach: the goal was to create a neutral setting for a conversation at eye level. For the young participants, it was not about shock value or slogans, but about practical questions from everyday life: What do situations look like when drugs suddenly seem “normal”? What tactics do dealers or older youths use to apply pressure? And what consequences can follow even from a single experiment?

Launch of a prevention campaign

The campaign targets children and teenagers before risky patterns take hold. Police officers emphasized that intoxicants are not limited to “hard” substances, but also include offers that are marketed as harmless party fun. In this age group in particular, it is important to recognize warning signs and seek help early. At the same time, prevention is not built on fear, but on knowledge, self-confidence, and reliable points of contact.

The session in Augustów outlined the initiative’s core aims: young people should understand how quickly use can turn into dependence, what health risks exist, and what social consequences may follow. These can include family conflict, declining performance at school, new peer groups with problematic dynamics, and the risk of being pulled into criminal behavior. The police noted that many cases develop gradually: curiosity becomes routine, routine becomes compulsion.

Talking with youth: recognizing pressure situations

A central topic was dealing with peer pressure. Younger teens often face situations where they want to belong and where saying “no” is framed as weakness. The officers described typical scenarios: an offer is staged as a dare, a substance is presented as “not that bad,” or it is claimed that everyone else has already tried it. In those moments, it helps to have clear phrases ready, find allies, and leave the situation before it escalates.

The role of social media was also addressed. Content that trivializes use or sells it as a lifestyle can shift perceptions. Young people encounter trends, codes, and supposed “tips” without being able to assess the source or quality of the information. The officers made clear that online portrayals often show a curated surface, while real consequences are left out. Anyone who encounters offers in chats or groups should be cautious and avoid being drawn into risky conversations.

How prevention works in practice

The event focused on practical guidance. Instead of only stating what is prohibited, the reasons and consequences were explained: What happens in the body when intoxicants take effect? Why are dosage and composition often uncertain? What dangers arise from mixing substances or from situations where nobody takes responsibility anymore? The police stressed that unknown substances and uncontrolled mixtures can be especially dangerous because no one can reliably know what they contain.

Another point was personal responsibility within friend groups. Students were encouraged to pay attention when behavior changes: withdrawal, mood swings, sleep problems, sudden aggression, or loss of concentration can be warning signs. At the same time, it is important not to stigmatize. Anyone worried about a friend should talk to a trusted adult and seek support rather than staying alone with concerns or applying pressure.

Risks that were discussed

The officers warned about health and psychological consequences. In addition to acute dangers such as circulatory problems or impaired consciousness, longer-term impacts were also discussed: dependence, increasing tolerance, and loss of control. Psychological strain was addressed as well. Turning to substances in times of stress, insecurity, or conflict may feel like short-term relief, but it can intensify problems and push real help further away.

The legal dimension was explained too, without escalating the tone. Young people should understand that certain actions are punishable and that even contact with illegal substances can have consequences. However, the campaign aims to prevent situations from reaching that point. That is why early conversations, education, and strengthening decision-making skills are at the center.

School, parents, and the environment as protective factors

The launch also highlighted the role of the surrounding environment. School and family can be protective factors if they are reliable, approachable, and attentive. Young people should know whom they can turn to if they have noticed something or if they themselves are under pressure. This can involve direct offers, but also uncertainty, fear, or conflicts that make teens more vulnerable to risky behavior.

It was also emphasized that adults should not only react once a situation has escalated. Prevention begins in daily life: conversations about boundaries, responsibility, and moments when help is needed. The police made it clear that seeking support is not a sign of weakness. On the contrary, asking early protects both oneself and others.

A message to the city: notice instead of looking away

With this start in Augustów, the campaign sends a visible message: drug prevention is not only the task of individual institutions, but a shared concern. The police want not only to inform young people about risks, but also to build trust. Prevention events create the chance to ask questions, voice uncertainty, and learn what options exist when something in one’s surroundings “doesn’t feel right.”

The meeting at the cultural center was therefore more than a short lecture. It was the starting point for a series of measures intended to give young people orientation before use, dependence, or criminal structures play any role at all. The key message was that situations can be recognized, boundaries can be set, and help can be sought—and that there are points of contact in the city for exactly that.