The name Helder op School represents making boundaries open to discussion, whether from the perspective of the student, parents or the school administration. At the same time, it is associated with clear rules and being clear at school. The new website is called www.helderopschool.nl.
Helder op School is intended for schools that want to focus on preventing alcohol, tobacco, drug use and gaming. The program’s broad approach is its strength. “We develop interventions, investigate whether they work, preferably through RCTs, and then implement them and adapt the interventions where necessary. We deliberately conduct the research ourselves so that we can make adjustments immediately,” says Dr. Jeroen Lammers, project leader of Helder op School at the Trimbos Institute.
Looking back at DGSG
The DGSG program originated 30 years ago from research conducted as part of alternative military service. At that time, no teaching materials on alcohol, drugs and tobacco were available. In recent years, several effectiveness studies have been conducted into the results of the program. With the help of these insights and the productive cooperation with the municipal public health services and addiction care institutions, a robust program has been established with four pillars: policy, education, detection and environment. “We started by producing a number of booklets for primary education. We now offer all kinds of (teaching) materials for primary, secondary, vocational, higher professional and university education, and train prevention workers from municipal public health services and addiction care institutions. A program you can no longer ignore,” says Marianne Maat, project officer at Helder op School.
Looking ahead and challenges for Helder op School
In the coming years, work will focus on further strengthening the implementation of the program. Prevention professionals and schools will receive mandatory training before they use the interventions. “We are aware that this places significant demands on institutions, partners and schools. What can they manage, and what will continue to work in practice? It must be practically feasible to continue carrying out the interventions,” says Jeroen Lammers.
Helder op School also wants to invest in a prevention approach aimed at vulnerable target groups. This process has already begun by reaching out to practical education and special education as new target groups. It is a good approach to complement universal prevention programs. In addition, the program aims to ensure that young people making the transition from secondary to higher education are as well equipped as possible to deal with substance use—or to refrain from it altogether.
Together we are stronger
Partly thanks to its exceptionally strong network of municipal public health services and addiction care institutions, Helder op School has become a well-integrated program. “We really do this together. It is wonderful to see that there are always prevention workers willing to test pilots and developments. The ultimate goal is for the interventions to actually work. That is fantastic,” says Marianne Maat.
Prevention in education
View the offer from Helder op School here for the prevention of alcohol use, smoking, drug use and gaming in primary, secondary and higher education.