This issue provides concrete tools to discuss alcohol misuse at the frontline, experiment with the Icelandic model at the municipal level, and situate these practices within a data framework (ARCAD-W) and reflection (AI, knowledge sharing).
A general practitioner, a pharmacist, a social worker, or a CLPS coordinator can use it to lead prevention actions, structure partnerships, and argue with decision-makers.
Source: 📒 Education Health – Misuse of alcohol: the Namur initiative is inspiring others in Wallonia
📜🔗LINK
Number of pages: 16 pages
1. Analytical summary
Context and issues: alcohol, addictions, data and digital
The issue brings together several files on alcohol and drug consumption in Wallonia, the prevention of addictions among young people, and the emergence of AI in the care relationship. It first describes how a local dynamic regarding alcohol misuse in the province of Namur, associated with Tournée Minérale®, has become a lever to equip the front line and spread at the Walloon level. A second article presents the municipal implementation of the Icelandic prevention model in Gembloux, focused on the living environments of young people and the reduction of consumption through Planet Youth and AVIQ funding focused on health literacy. The ARCAD-W survey by Eurotox documents alcohol and drug use in a socio-epidemiological manner, supporting provincial monitoring and the preparation of the future WAPPS. An article then questions the issues of equity and the digital divide surrounding an AI application in knee rehabilitation, while a final text outlines the challenges of knowledge sharing in health promotion based on the work "Health Promotion Today."
Operational contributions: equipping the front line, models and frameworks for reflection
For field actors, the alcohol file provides very concrete tools: kits combining Tournée Minérale® goodies, a 'self-test' sheet, a measuring cup, an alcohol ruler, argumentation materials, as well as formats for activities for professionals and the public, easily transferable to other territories. The article on Gembloux offers a step-by-step methodology to adapt the Icelandic model: local surveys among young people, community mobilisation (family, school, leisure, peers), multi-year cycles, and anchoring in health literacy. ARCAD-W provides a framework to co-construct a questionnaire with addiction services, adjust tools for vulnerable audiences, and present data in a way that is useful for policymakers and local teams. The article on AI helps identify profiles of users and caregivers in relation to digital technology, the different dimensions of the digital divide, and the conditions under which AI does not reinforce social health inequalities. Finally, the review of 'Health Promotion Today' offers theoretical benchmarks (ecology of knowledge, cognitive justice, systemic approach) that can be directly mobilised to think about field projects and their evaluation.
2. Key points of the document
The 'Misuse of Alcohol' campaign as a prevention locomotive (p.3-6)
The article shows how a working group from Namur on alcohol misuse used Tournée Minérale® to systematise detection, break taboos among caregivers, shift from a withdrawal-focused logic to a motivational approach, and deploy kits in hospitals, pharmacies, medical centres, and psycho-social structures. (p.3-6)
A very concrete toolkit for the front line (p.4-5)
The Misuse kit combines the Tournée Minérale® badge and poster with educational tools developed by the CEP (unit sheet and self-test, measuring cup, alcohol ruler), with stand animation methods allowing professionals to test their own consumption and practice discussing it with patients. (p.4‑5)
The Walloon dissemination via Univers Santé, Réseau Alto and CLPS (p.5‑6)
In 2026, the partners built on the Namur experience to organise training in several provinces, distribute 1,760 kits and prepare for regional coordination in 2027, while allowing room for adaptation to local realities regarding addictions and access to specialised services. (p.5‑6)
Gembloux: the first French-speaking field for the Icelandic model (p.7‑9)
The article on Gembloux details the implementation of the Icelandic prevention model with Planet Youth: questionnaires for 3rd year secondary students, identification of protective factors, mobilisation of living environments, a five-year cycle, and alignment with the AVIQ call "Better knowledge for better choices" focused on young people's health literacy regarding alcohol. (p.7‑9)
ARCAD-W, AI and knowledge sharing: three frameworks for thinking about action (p.10‑15)
The ARCAD-W survey illustrates a co-construction of an epidemiological tool with field actors; the AIM² project around AI highlights three digital divides and profiles of users/caregivers; the review of "Health promotion today" formalises an ecology of knowledge and a systemic approach, inviting a move away from a biomedical monoculture. (p.10‑15)
3. Action points for local actors
Structure a local Misuse group and link actions to a key event (p.3‑6)
Establish a working group bringing together university hospitals or local hospitals, CLPS, CEP, pharmacists, and networks of psychologists to adapt the Namur approach, use Tournée Minérale® as a 'locomotive', and include actions for early detection and reduction of consumption throughout the year. (p.3‑6)
Disseminate and contextualise alcohol kits to the frontline. (p.4‑6)
Organise, at the municipal or healthcare territory level, distribution times for kits (badges, posters, fact sheets, cups, rulers) coupled with mini-training sessions where professionals test their own consumption, practice motivational questioning, and identify available support for complex situations. (p.4‑6)
Apply or align with initiatives like Planet Youth. (p.7‑9)
For municipalities with a structured school base, consider an approach inspired by the Icelandic model: local survey on consumption and living environments, political and associative mobilisation, work on leisure and parents' time, seeking technical support (Planet Youth, specialised operators) and funding like AVIQ 'alcohol literacy'. (p.7‑9)
Rely on ARCAD-W and existing data for advocacy. (p.10‑11)
Use the results of the ARCAD-W survey, the wastewater analyses from Sciensano, and provincial monitoring to inform a shared diagnosis, feed into local health plans, advocate to authorities for addiction resources, and include actions in the future WAPPS. (p.10‑11)
Integrate AI, literacy, and knowledge sharing into projects. (p.12‑15)
When designing digital tools or information devices, integrate from the outset the issue of usage, understanding, and relational fractures, engage vulnerable patients and professionals in co-construction, and rely on the approach of 'ecology of knowledge' to recognise the value of practical knowledge on par with quantitative data. (p.12-15)
4. Additional References
🔍➕ For more information, see the articles referenced by "Health Practices" on the topic of addictions ➡️🔗 https://pratiquesensante.odoo.com/4-5-les-addictions
5. Cross-Analysis — Values of Health Practices
Literacy: The issue offers very accessible tools (measuring cup, unit sheet, ruler, Misuse kit) and explicit projects on alcohol literacy among young people, with paper materials adapted for audiences less comfortable with digital tools.
Empowerment: The Planet Youth and AI initiatives aim to strengthen the agency of young people and patients, particularly by involving them in surveys and the use of tools that help them to objectify their consumption and make decisions.
Participation: The described projects are co-constructed with field professionals, addiction services, schools, families, and young people, with workshops for adjusting questionnaires (ARCAD-W) and focus groups for AI.
Community Health: The Icelandic prevention in Gembloux and the Misuse campaign are based on community approaches that articulate living environments, professional networks, associations, and local authorities.
Ethics: The texts highlight the risks of labelling (“alcohol reference”), the potential coercion (curfews of the Icelandic model) and the issues of AI regarding privacy, the care relationship and inequalities, with explicit warnings.
Human rights: The critique of the coercive aspects of the Icelandic model and the insistence on the absence of judgement in the approach to alcohol reflect a concern for public freedoms, equity and inclusion.
Intersectorality: The actions mobilise health, social services, education, sports, municipalities, mutuals, AVIQ, observatories and academics around common projects.
Partnership: Structured collaboration models are emerging (GT Misuse, Planet Youth partnerships, AIM² consortium, ARCAD-W consultations), with explicit roles and regional coordinations.
Fight against discrimination: The emphasis on non-judgement of consumption, adaptation to vulnerable populations, consideration of digital vulnerability and the denunciation of the monoculture of knowledge contribute to limiting stigma and inequalities.
Points of vigilance in facilitation
The main theme concerns alcohol, drugs and addictions, which can be sensitive and trigger strong emotional reactions (personal experiences, bereavements, addictive disorders, difficult family contexts).
Risks of emotional triggering :
Implicit testimonies about the difficulties of addiction and relapses, mention of the high relapse rate after withdrawal, and discussion of dependence and the risk of death in the event of abrupt cessation can revive experiences of suffering in participants with a history of addiction or a concerned relative.
Data on the spread of drugs such as crack, methamphetamine, or ketamine, including in Belgium, can provoke anxiety or a sense of helplessness among professionals already exposed to these situations.
References to curfews and measures perceived as coercive in the Icelandic model can reactivate experiences of control or restriction among certain young or activist audiences.
6. Assessment of the reliability of the resource
Scientific relevance :
The articles rely on published references (Sigfusdottir et al. study on Iceland, analyses from Sciensano, literature on the Icelandic model, health promotion work, and sociology of knowledge).
The numerical data (Icelandic prevalence, volumes of questionnaires, number of kits, WHO recommendations) are consistent with the recent external sources consulted.
The articles specify the limitations: transferability of the Icelandic model, under-representation of certain audiences in ARCAD-W, tensions around AI and curfews.
Operational relevance :
The review explicitly targets French-speaking health promotion practitioners, with sections "Initiatives", "Reflections", "Tool" that provide detailed descriptions of systems, tools, implementation conditions, and contacts.
The contents are immediately transposable: composition of kits, training formats, stages of a local Planet Youth project, principles of a co-constructed questionnaire, areas of focus for AI in contexts of vulnerability.
7. MCQ — 5 questions
Part 1 — MCQ without answers
Question 1 (p.3-4)
In the Namur dynamic, what is the main contribution of Tournée Minérale® for health professionals?
a) To offer only complete withdrawals
b) To serve as a 'locomotive' to address misuse and facilitate early detection
c) To replace consultations with online follow-up
d) To limit the campaign to one month of awareness without follow-up
Question 2 (p.4-5)
What is the main objective of the CEP measuring cup?
a) To standardise the size of glasses in bars
b) To visually illustrate what an alcohol unit is and support the animation
c) To measure blood alcohol levels
d) To prohibit the sale of alcohol beyond a certain hour
Question 3 (p.7-9)
In the Icelandic prevention model implemented in Gembloux, what is the starting point of the action?
a) The immediate implementation of a curfew for young people
b) A national media campaign on the dangers of drugs
c) A collection of local data from third-year secondary students
d) The increase in the price of alcohol in shops
Question 4 (p.10-11)
What role do field professionals play in the ARCAD-W survey?
a) None, the questionnaire is exclusively designed by Eurotox
b) They adjust the questionnaire, propose reformulations and suitable formats
c) They merely disseminate the final results to the public
d) They fully fund the project
Question 5 (p.12‑13)
According to the AIM² project, which dimension is NOT part of the three identified digital divides?
a) Usage divide
b) Understanding divide
c) Relational divide
d) Financial divide
Part 2 — Commented correction
Question 1 (p.3-4)
✅ Correct answer: b) To serve as a "locomotive" to address misuse and enable early detection.
📝 Explanation: The article emphasises that Tournée Minérale® is used as a "locomotive" to overcome professionals' reluctance, initiate discussion about alcohol, and allow for earlier detection of misuse, beyond just withdrawal. Source: p.3‑4.
Question 2 (p.4-5)
✅ Correct answer: b) To visually illustrate what an alcohol unit is and support the animation.
📝 Explanation: The measuring cup is described as a graduated educational tool to show the quantities corresponding to one unit of pure alcohol, and as an animation tool to discuss alcohol in a simple, concrete, and visual way. Source: p.4‑5.
Question 3 (p.7-9)
✅ Correct answer: c) A collection of local data from third-year secondary students.
📝 Explanation: The Icelandic model is primarily based on a questionnaire addressed to young people (here, the students in the 3rd year of secondary school from the schools in Gembloux and an AMO), in order to identify their consumption, their living environments, and protective factors, before acting on the community. Source: p.7‑9.
Question 4 (p.10-11)
✅ Correct answer: b) They adjust the questionnaire, propose reformulations and adapted formats.
📝 Explanation: The consultation workshops with field actors allowed for the adaptation of the ARCAD-W questionnaire: removal of a cocaine scale, reformulation of questions about housing, creation of a shorter paper version for certain audiences, which illustrates a real co-construction. Source: p.10‑11.
Question 5 (p.12‑13)
✅ Correct answer: d) Financial fracture.
📝 Explanation: The AIM² project distinguishes three fractures: usage (limitation or constraint in the use of digital technology), understanding (difficulty in interpreting health information), and relational (isolation in front of the screen), but does not explicitly mention a "financial fracture" as a central category. Source: p.12‑13.
8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How to address alcohol misuse with a patient without stigmatizing them? (p.3‑5)
The document recommends using a motivational approach, starting from the person's feelings ("Does your consumption suit you?", "What would you gain from reducing?"), rather than immediately suggesting withdrawal, and relying on concrete tools (cup, sheet, ruler) to objectify without judging. (p.3‑5)
What does the Misuse kit contain precisely and how to use it in consultation or workshop? (p.4‑5)
The kit includes Tournée Minérale® materials (badge, posters) and CEP tools (unit sheet and self-test, measuring cup, alcohol ruler), which can be used to initiate discussion, illustrate quantities, and propose self-questioning during consultations, workshops, or stands. (p.4-5)
How can a CLPS or a local network replicate the Namur experience? (p.5-6)
This involves bringing together a group of partners (CLPS, CEP, Réseau Alto, pharmacists, psychologists, doctors), planning awareness sessions, organising the distribution of kits through multiple appointments, and ensuring regional coordination to harmonise while maintaining local adaptations. (p.5-6)
What does the Icelandic prevention model applied in Gembloux actually consist of? (p.7-9)
The model starts with a survey of young people, identifies risk and protective factors around family, peers, leisure, and school, and then implements collective actions (strengthening sports and cultural activities, parental guidance, etc.) over a cycle of at least five years. (p.7-9)
How will ARCAD-W data be useful for local policies and services? (p.10-11)
The responses will feed into provincial monitoring and consultations among stakeholders, support Eurotox's advocacy in the future WAPPS and the reorganisation of primary care, and enable services to have recent data to adapt their provisions. (p.10-11)
What risks does the use of AI in health pose to social health inequalities? (p.12-13)
The AIM² project shows that AI can reinforce usage, understanding, and relational fractures if it is not co-constructed with vulnerable audiences and well articulated to the care relationship; without support, it risks overwhelming patients with anxiety-inducing information. (p.12-13)
Why is the sharing of knowledge central to health promotion according to the presented work? (p.14-15)
The work highlights that health promotion relies on a continuous interaction between theories and practices, that biomedical monoculture constitutes an 'epistemicide', and that an ecology of knowledge (scientific, professional, community) is necessary to act on determinants and inequalities. (p.14-15)
9. Rewriting in Easy Language (analytical summary and key points)
Easy Language Title
Talking about alcohol, addictions, and health with simple tools
Context and issues — Easy Language
This issue mainly discusses alcohol, other drugs, and health.
It presents a project in Wallonia to better discuss alcohol with patients.
It also explains a project for young people in Gembloux with a model from Iceland.
Another article discusses a large survey on alcohol and drugs in Wallonia.
It also talks about digital tools with artificial intelligence for health.
It explains how to better share knowledge to act on health.
Operational contributions — Easy Language
The issue provides simple tools to talk about alcohol in consultations or workshops.
It shows how to conduct a survey among young people and act on their environment.
It describes how to build questionnaires with services that see users.
It helps to see the limits and risks of artificial intelligence tools in health.
It offers ideas for blending the knowledge of researchers, professionals, and residents.
Key points — Easy to Read
Mineral Tour® as a starting point
In February, professionals use Mineral Tour® to talk about alcohol with their patients.
This helps to ask questions without judgement and to identify issues earlier.
A kit to talk about alcohol with simple objects
The kit contains posters, a badge, a fact sheet, a measuring cup, and a ruler.
These objects help to show the quantities of alcohol and to start the discussion.
A rollout in other provinces
Other provinces in Wallonia are now using this kit and these training sessions.
Several partners are coordinating to adapt the project to their local context.
The Icelandic model for young people in Gembloux
Young people respond to a questionnaire about their habits and well-being.
The municipality and partners then act on family, school, and leisure.
Data and ideas for better action
The ARCAD-W survey provides figures to better understand usage.
The article on AI shows that patients need support with these tools.
The presented book explains that all knowledge is useful for health.
#️⃣ #AlcoholPrevention #YouthAndAddictions #HealthLiteracy #HealthPromotion #CommunityHealth #AIinHealth #LocalPartnerships @HealthPractices