The city of Rennes is intensifying its efforts to combat drug trafficking among young people with a extensive action plan. This initiative aims to dissuade youth from getting involved in drug-related activities by highlighting the violence, isolation, and regrets associated with such involvement.The plan emphasizes choice opportunities and resources available within the city and its neighborhoods.

Communication tools will be provided to professionals and families to facilitate open discussions and break down taboos surrounding this sensitive issue.

Rennes Awarded Grant to Combat Drug Trafficking

As a 2024 winner of the Mildeca call for projects (Interministerial Mission to Fight Drugs and Addictive Driving), alongside 15 other cities, Rennes has secured a grant of €150,000 to implement prevention strategies targeting youth involvement in drug trafficking. This brings the total budget for the city’s action plan to €240,000, which will be deployed until June 2027, spanning three school years and benefiting priority districts including Bréquigny, Cleunay, Maurepas, Blosne, and Villejean.

Like many cities, Rennes faces challenges related to drug trafficking, with increasingly visible methods and the involvement of younger individuals. The consequences impact public health, safety, social cohesion, and overall community well-being. Municipalities are actively working to address this issue through prevention policies that complement law enforcement efforts.

“Youth protection as well as the fight against nuisance and delinquency constitute essential priorities for elected officials…”

What is Mildeca?

Mildeca, under the authority of the Prime Minister, coordinates government efforts to combat drugs and addictive behaviors. It develops government strategies in areas such as research, prevention, health, law enforcement, and combating trafficking.

MILDECA recognizes that “Youth protection and also the fight against nuisance and delinquency constitute essential priorities for elected officials, which strive to develop an adapted and enduring public response”. dr. Nicolas Prisse, president of MILDECA, expressed delight in the commitment of the City of rennes and its initiatives. Through calls for projects in 2024 and 2025, Mildeca has expanded the number of communities involved in preventing minor participation in drug trafficking to 30.

Five-Component Action Plan

The city’s action plan is built on the principle that a mobilized and informed community working together can effectively counter the harmful effects of drug trafficking. It emphasizes the importance of engaging with at-risk youth, connecting with their families, and addressing the deceptive allure of drug trafficking.

The action plan has three main objectives:

• Train professionals who work with young people at risk of or involved in drug trafficking and/or narcotics use.
• Collaborate with young people on prevention initiatives and communication campaigns.
• personalize responses through better understanding of the profiles of young people involved.

The plan includes five components:

• Train professionals
  A training program for youth animators,educators,sports animators,mediators,social workers,education staff,municipal services,social landlords,and city security referents will equip them with tools to understand trafficking,vulnerability factors,and peer influence. Approximately 90 individuals will be trained.

• Awareness of children and their parents
  Interventions for children in CM1, CM2, and 6th grade, along with their parents, will be organized in partnership with national education to address needs expressed by educational teams.The goal is to reach all students in these grades across the concerned districts, with data and support offered to families.
• Target vulnerable audiences
  Prevention interventions will target young people under the judicial protection of youth (PJJ) and in partnership with child protection services. The aim is to educate them about the harmful consequences of drug use and trafficking, benefiting around 40 young people (aged 16 to 21) annually.
• Design a communication campaign
  A group of young people from Rennes, guided by local partners, will design a communication campaign to convey prevention messages and raise awareness about the impacts of drug trafficking. This campaign will deconstruct the appealing aspects of drug dealing and educate young people and consumers.

Additional Study

A study will be conducted to identify the patterns of minors arrested for drug-related offenses in Rennes. This initiative, funded by the City of Rennes and partners, will be carried out in partnership with the research laboratory in psycho-criminology, cognition, behavior, and communication from Rennes 2 University, with contributions from APRAS and the TREND system.

Long-Term Approach

The city has collaborated with institutional and associative actors, including national education, the prefecture, the regional health agency (ARS), the Rennes judicial court, social assistance services, judicial youth protection (PJJ), and neighborhood associations. This initiative has fostered a partnership dynamic rooted in the local security and prevention council delinquency (CLSPD) and the local health contract (CLS).