Strong local cooperation

In the National Prevention Agreement (2018), the government, together with seventy civil society organisations, made agreements to reduce risky alcohol use in the Netherlands. The Association of Universities in the Netherlands (VSNU), the Association of Universities of Applied Sciences (VH) and the National Chamber of Associations (LKvV) also joined this National Prevention Agreement. Their agreement was that an ‘alcohol prevention & study’ plan would be developed in every municipality where higher education institutions are located. This is a challenge that requires strong local cooperation.

Experiences from Rotterdam

The municipality of Rotterdam took on this challenge in cooperation with the Trimbos Institute. In a multi-year process, cooperation was established between the municipality, care partners, educational institutions and student associations (social associations, study associations and student sports associations).

Based on the experiences in Rotterdam, the Trimbos Institute has written a guide for Dutch municipalities. They are advised to address the following themes to achieve an approach that is as comprehensive as possible:

  • Monitoring alcohol use among students
  • Alcohol policy at educational institutions and student associations
  • Alcohol prevention and care
  • Sustainable cooperation between local partners

The guide ‘The (student) time of your life!; A guide for municipalities on local cooperation in preventing risky alcohol use among students in higher education’ was written by Laura Nijkamp, Michelle van der Horst and Aukje Sannen of the Trimbos Institute. Geert Bruinen and Kristian de Bruyne (Municipality of Rotterdam), Gino Cornelius (YOUZ addiction care), Liza Gan-van Iperen (Codarts Rotterdam), Iteke de Jong (Erasmus University Rotterdam), Marit Lems and Menno Siljee (Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences), Lotte van den Bergh (Rotterdam Chamber of Associations), Laurens Wielaard (Erasmus Sport), Jolien Dopmeijer and Carmen Voogt (Trimbos Institute) also contributed to the publication.

The publication focuses on alcohol, but can, if desired, be expanded to include topics such as smoking, drugs and mental well-being.