Lammers, project leader of Healthy School and Drugs at the Trimbos Institute, conducted research into the Preventure intervention. This is a programme aimed at young people with a personality profile that makes them vulnerable to excessive alcohol use. The results of his dissertation show that Preventure is effective in reducing binge drinking among young people with a high-risk personality profile and among young people in practical education. These include, for example, young people who seek a lot of excitement or those who are prone to anxiety. The results of Lammers’ dissertation show that prevention aimed at these young people is more effective than universal prevention in reducing excessive alcohol use. Lammers: “Investing in a prevention approach aimed at high-risk groups is a valuable addition to universal prevention programmes, which can improve the health benefits for young people at population level.”
It is good that, as part of the Prevention Agreement, the Preventure intervention can be further developed and tested in practical and special education over the coming years. However, a real change requires more, says Lammers, based on his research.
What is needed?
To begin with, the prevention field in the Netherlands needs a different vision of prevention. In addition to universal prevention, more attention should be paid to the groups that are most at risk or are already experiencing problems with alcohol use. By setting up a stepped prevention system, prevention for the entire group and prevention for high-risk young people can reinforce each other. This requires a different approach and different skills from prevention professionals. They need more skills in motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioural therapy, in addition to providing information about the risks of use.
It also requires an expansion of the current range of alcohol prevention programmes. At present, the range of prevention programmes for at-risk young people in the Netherlands is limited. Within Healthy School and Drugs (the new name for Healthy School and Drugs), the emphasis is on classroom-based educational programmes that address all young people of a particular age. “It is time to invest more in interventions for the most vulnerable young people. We now have more knowledge and experience about what works, and it is necessary to provide more tailored programmes for this vulnerable target group. The funding from the Prevention Agreement is a first step; we need to expand this over the coming years,” says Lammers.