Introduction. The development and implementation of pedagogical technologies aimed at preventing socially negative phenomena (smoking, alcohol abuse, drug addiction) in higher education institutions is one of the key tasks of educational work. This is particularly important for medical higher education institutions as it allows future doctors to master the competences that form both the readiness for educational activity intended to eliminate risk factors of socially negative phenomena (SNP)

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... to promote commitment to a healthy lifestyle in the population, which also facilitates professional and personal self-development of the students. Materials and methods. To study the frequency and causes of tobacco smoking and to reveal the effectiveness of the smoking prevention program implemented by the members of the center of voluntary activity "Tvoy Viybor" (Russian for "Your choice"), a research was performed in Irkutsk State Medical University (ISMU). In the ascertaining stage of the research, an initial anonymous survey among 200 students was conducted in 2015. In the formative stage of the research, targeted work on the prevention of SNP was carried out among students by the members of the volunteer center. The control stage of the survey was conducted in 2017 with 492 students of ISMU. Results. The center of voluntary activity "Tvoy Viybor», which was organized in ISMU, solves the stated tasks using the opportunities of the medical university by attracting active successful students. The public work of activists based on the "equal-to-peer" principle as well as organization of various social events including psychological trainings, seminars with application of methods of problem education and illustrative-explanatory training, quests and quizzes about SNP prevention, allowed to reduce the number of smoking students in the university and form a negative attitude to other SNP among youth. Thus, in 2015, 63% of students indicated themselves as smokers, while two years later according to the repeat survey, this proportion reduced significantly to 12% among students, who were actively involved into the preventive work. More than 94% of students quit smoking in the presence of children, family members and patients. A lower number of smokers in public places was pointed out in ISMU. Conclusions. Therefore, a community of youth leaders and successful representatives of their generation dedicated to the healthy life style was formed in Irkutsk State Medical University with the support of the Ministry of Youth Policy and the Centre of Drug Prevention of Irkutsk Region. The implementation of modern pedagogical technologies and active involvement of volunteers into the preventive work allow to successfully form health saving competencies of students. The activity of the voluntary center "Your choice" facilitates the development of communication skills and leadership qualities among medical students and enables future doctors, based on the acquired experience and knowledge, to become leaders and form a negative attitude among youth towards SNP and to attract new volunteers.