EUPC Implementation Experiences in the Context of the Flemish Community, Belgium

The Flemish community in Belgium has been actively involved in the European Prevention Curriculum (EUPC) since its adaptation of the UPC (Universal Prevention Curriculum) to the European context, followed by participation in the ASAP-training project (Building effective drug prevention results across Europe, based on prevention systems analysis and widespread professional training). This practitioner narrative explores the implementation of the EUPC in the Flemish community in Belgium as part of a Special Issue on EUPC implementation practice and lessons learnt. The implementation of the EUPC in the Flemish community has demonstrated positive effects on the broader substance use prevention landscape, highlighting the importance of high-quality prevention initiatives. Despite these successes, challenges persist, particularly within a prevention support system constrained by limited resources. Key obstacle is getting and maintaining the engagement of decision-makers, opinion leaders, and policymakers, which were central to the EUPC's original focus. In response to this challenge, the Flemish community is gradually developing supplementary materials. These efforts continue to be guided by EUPC-related content, aiming to enhance the region's capacity for effective substance use prevention.