The Ministry of Youth and Sports in collaboration with the NATReSA is currently implementing a programme  for the Prevention of substance Abuse among Youth. This programme has as objectives : 

• To sensitise youth on the need to engage in preventive actions to combat substance abuse including alcoholism and smoking as a major health problem.
• To promote youth to youth messages as an effective prevention strategy against drug abuse.
• To encourage youth to engage in alternative activities as a means to promote a positive drug-free lifestyle.
• To promote protective factors which equip youth with skills to deal with various youth challenges.

Some activities proposed or this year are workshops, sensitization campaigns through innovative and interactive means such as literary events including debate competition, elocution contest, quiz, essay writing and painting competition. Other activities are musical concerts, sketch, radio/ TV programmes. 

With a view to design programmes which are needs sensitive, a Knowledge Attitude Behaviour and Perception (KABP) study is proposed to be carried out by the NATReSA in collaboration with the Mauritius Research Council in 2009. This Ministry will be a main stakeholder in this project and the findings will give deeper insight into the problem of substance abuse among youth.