Any form of addiction is a problem not only for the person who has developed addiction, but also for everyone around them - relatives, friends, for the whole society... Relationships suffer. Multiple destinies are placed at a crossroads. Denial, ignoring the problem and finding rational explanations to answer the fears of loved ones and reinforce the delusional sense of control possibilities. Such defense mechanisms do not allow a real assessment to be made and an attempt to correct and change behavior. Especially when the main actor in the performance is a young person who is still building an image of himself, of others, of the world.

And then there is a need for someone to put himself in his place, look objectively at the details, evaluate the possibilities for a way out of the problematic situation and say: "If I were in your place..."

The project " Me instead of you", implemented by the Tsvete Theater in partnership with the PULSE Foundation, was initiated precisely to give young people the opportunity to look at the difficult problem of "drug addiction" from the side and, assuming the role of its victim, to look for a way out.

As part of the project's activities, from July 30 to August 3 and from August 3 to 7, a five-day addiction prevention training was held at Hotel Borika, Chepelare.

The training camp is organized in two groups of 50 young people each - trainers of their peers aged between 15 and 19 years from 9 settlements  - Chepelare, Zlatograd, Dupnitsa, Yambol, Kardzhali, Gotse Delchev, Pernik, Zlataritsa and the village of Bistritsa, during which they increased their knowledge about the types of addictions, different narcotic substances and their harmful consequences, as well as had the opportunity to touch the magic of the Forum Theater or "Theatre of the Oppressed".

Forum theater is an art for social change. It is a small play reflecting various social problems. But it is not just a play. It is also a forum because it allows the audience to participate in the construction of the script by changing the actions and reactions of the characters in it. Thus, viewers are not just witnesses to the problems. They have the opportunity to be active participants in the life of their community because they can say: " I don't like this and want to change it! And if I were in the character's place, I would...".

The five-day training camp gave the young participants the opportunity to become aware of the negative consequences of drug use in a colorful and dynamic way, sharing personal stories, stage experience and the exciting journey into the world of forum theater and social change.

During the training program, the approach of non-formal learning through experience was used, and it was filled with various games, thematic cases, practical examples, discussions, experiences and other methods of non-formal learning, physical activities and movement, as day by day, the participants themselves surprising themselves with new skills, unleashing their artistry, exploring the limits of their spontaneity and courage while genuinely having fun.

The final goal of this dynamic and emotional experiential learning is for each of the 10 groups from the two camps, under the mentorship of proven professionals - actors, writers and directors, as well as specialists in the field of working with addictions, to create realistic performances in the form in a theater forum, which in a fascinating way tell about the use of narcotic substances and the accompanying risks, giving the opportunity for discussion with the audience, as well as to present new options for different scenes or finale. Thus, young people ceased to be mere witnesses to the problems - they became active participants in the life of their community.

Entering the role of a user, even with the awareness that they are only participants in a theatrical play, the youth experienced the great hopelessness of trying to escape from the drug trap. With the awareness of the need to fight to prevent new victims from falling into the trap of drug addiction, the young actors from here now face the great challenge of performing their captivating plays in their hometowns, thereby in turn alerting their peers to the unrelenting attention, awareness and countermeasures that the problem of drug use and distribution requires.

The "Me instead of you" project gave young people the opportunity to assert their identity through theater. Encourage their engagement and participation in solving certain social problems, increase their civic engagement. This model of working with children undoubtedly gives positive results. Thus, they themselves reveal the problems they experience, which excite them, which they want to declare to themselves and society, and through the power of the theater to seek and discover the solutions, the way out of every situation... and there is no more effective and long-lasting result than the one obtained through experience.

On the stage in Chepelare, a successful ending was possible.

And in life?

We believe it is up to us. Because expressing a position is brave, but initiating change, instead of pointing the finger at the culprit, is responsible.