The association G-addiction intervenes in high schools and universities to raise awareness among young people about all forms of addiction.
Seventy thousand people sensitized and 170 actions initiated, Quentin Matton’s association mobilizes teenagers on social issues: road safety, cannabis, video games, sports betting. During his interventions, his team uses workshops to involve students as much as possible.
What does the notion of addiction mean to you?
For me, it is a phenomenon of dependence. It means not being able to do something without it. It is at this point that the activity turns into an addiction. It causes problems with eyesight or weight. Social interaction is also affected: we no longer leave home, people are cutting off from the world. This is an issue to be considered in the future.
What is the objective of your association?
“When it was created: the aim was to boost student life on the IUT campus in Nice West. Then, the latter exploded and I opened it on the inter-campus. Today we interact with young people on societal issues. We are putting all our efforts into the vocational field (CFA, Lycée Pro). Students are confronted with these problems more quickly. »
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How do you raise awareness among the youngest?
We do peer prevention: from young people to young people. The fact that the workers are the same age allows for greater listening and attention. They are relaxed, less in the image of “young and old” they can speak more easily. During the workshops, they are more active, the students feel concerned. Also, the development of new addictions (on screens or sports betting) reinforces the need to raise awareness among the youngest.
What do you do during your interventions?
My team involves young people through actions, first aid training on cardiac arrest, wearing glasses with visual effects following cannabis or alcohol consumption. It’s more fun, the participants don’t feel like they’re in class, they’re actors, instead of just being spectators. The workers also talk about their experiences about how they managed to cope. That’s a plus their experiences show how to get out of it. It’s a constant struggle.
Have you received any feedback on your actions?
Yes, at each meeting, we provide an evaluation sheet that allows us to establish precise results about our actions. For the moment, 100% of the establishments are satisfied with our interventions. Thanks to this, we are accredited by the national education system, the regional health agency, and the civic service. This is proof of our seriousness.
