Discover an approach that helps communities come together to foster healthier, more resilient youth by transforming social environments and delaying the onset of substance use.
What is Planet Youth?
Planet Youth is an international organization based in Iceland, dedicated to supporting the health and well-being of young people. Through a collaborative, data-driven approach known as The Icelandic Prevention Model, Planet Youth partners with communities around the world to help them create safer, healthier environments where children and adolescents can flourish.
Our mission is simple but impactful: to empower communities to come together, understand the needs of their young people, and implement strategies that prevent substance use before it starts. Through collaboration, knowledge sharing, and long-term commitment, we help build environments where youth can thrive—free from the risks associated with alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.
The Icelandic Prevention Model (IPM) is a data-driven, population-wide model developed and applied in Iceland since the early 1990s. It focuses on identifying community-level risk factors and strengthening protective factors to reduce youth substance use and other negative social outcomes among children and young people. The IPM emphasizes delaying the onset of substance use to reduce long-term health and social implications. The IPM has been documented and described in numerous peer-reviewed academic publications.
The Guidance Program is Planet Youth’s structured, supportive framework that helps communities around the world implement the Icelandic Prevention Model. Through training, resources, and ongoing collaboration, it empowers local leaders to create data-driven strategies that strengthen protective factors, reduce risks, and delay the onset of substance use among youth.
From building strong community coalitions to analyzing local data and supporting communities in designing tailored interventions, the Guidance Program offers a clear pathway for long-term, sustainable change. With a focus on flexibility and local adaptation, it ensures that every participating community can craft prevention efforts that reflect their unique culture, needs, and strengths—creating healthier environments where young people can thrive.
