In January 2021, the Chair on Youth and Alcohol was launched at the University of Antwerp. The goal? To better map and reduce excessive alcohol consumption among young people in our country. The inspiration (and funding) for the chair came from the Netherlands, where so-called alcohol clinics have already proven their value.
Research by the Intermutualistic Agency (IMA), the University of Antwerp (UZA), and the University of Antwerp shows that in 2018, more than 2,200 young people in Belgium were admitted to the emergency room with alcohol poisoning. Other research shows that one in three 17- and 18-year-olds binge drink at least once a month.
"Alcohol consumption not only leads to health damage in the short term, but also in the long term," explains Professor Guido Van Hal (University of Antwerp). "Damage and impaired brain development lead to a loss of intellectual capital and also negatively impact emotional and impulse control. The impact isn't just significant for the young person who drinks; society as a whole suffers."
Relapse is almost zero
The Netherlands is significantly ahead of Flanders in tackling alcohol abuse among young people. The driving force behind this is Dr. Nico van der Lely, affiliated with the Reinier de Graaf Hospital in Delft and a guest lecturer at the University of Antwerp. In 2010, he founded the Youth and Alcohol Foundation ( www.stichtingjeugdenalcohol.nl ). The foundation researches the issue, provides education and awareness, and has since established twelve alcohol clinics in Dutch hospitals.
"In our outpatient clinics, young people with alcohol intoxication are treated and follow a special program to prevent future abuse," says Dr. van der Lely. "It's crucial to start working with the young person immediately during the 'golden hour,' the first hour after waking from the intoxication. We also involve the parents intensively. The approach is working: where you used to often see the same young people arriving at the emergency room drunk, relapse rates have now been reduced to virtually zero."
Alcohol clinic at the UZA
The Dutch approach is now being replicated in Flanders. In January 2021, the "Reinier de Graaf Chair on Youth and Alcohol" will launch at the University of Antwerp. Delft University of Technology is funding the project. Van der Lely and Van Hal will hold the chair, and Professors Jozef De Dooy and Stijn Verhulst, both affiliated with UZA and the University of Antwerp, are also supporting the initiative.
The aim of the chair is to better map alcohol abuse among young people in Flanders. Van Hal: "There's still a lot of work to be done in our country, both in terms of registration and reducing relapse. A doctoral student will focus on, among other things, a more efficient registration system and will work on prevention and awareness. The chair will also implement a pilot project for the first Flemish alcohol clinic, at the University Hospital of Antwerp (UZA).
Want to know more? Be sure to check out the website .
- Chair holders : Dr. N. van der Lely and the holders from the University of Antwerp: Prof. Dr. Guido Van Hal (Social Epidemiology and Health Policy Research Group), Prof. Dr. Jozef De Dooy (University of Antwerp/UZA) and Prof. Stijn Verhulst (UZA/UAntwerp)
- Faculty : Medicine and Health Sciences
- Active : since 2021
- Partner : Reinier de Graaf
Find out more about the Youth and Alcohol chair
