RMUTL Organizes Comprehensive Health & Wellness Campaigns to Promote Well-being in Educational Institutions
On August 31, 2024, the Division of Student Development at Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna (RMUTL) organized a major project titled “Anti-Drug and Anti-Smoking Campaign for Healthy Lifestyles in Educational Institutions” in the Thongkaw Conference Room of the Learning Building. The initiative aimed to raise awareness among students about the dangers of drugs, cigarettes, e-cigarettes and alcohol, while promoting good physical and mental health within the university community.
The opening ceremony was presided over by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Teerasak Urajanaon, Vice President for Council Affairs, with Mrs. Saiyut Suwatthi, Acting Director of the Division of Student Development, delivering the project’s objectives. The session featured lectures and motivational activities led by Mr. Pramuan Kowitchaiwiwat, Director of the Northern Youth Development Center (NYDC), and his team. They provided an in-depth discussion on “Current Drug Problems and Their Harmful Effects,” emphasising preventive measures and strategies for youth leadership in promoting drug-free communities.
This project was supported by the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth or สสส.) and aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages, specifically Target 3.5: Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and the harmful use of alcohol.
In parallel, RMUTL’s Student Council and Student Union organised the “No-S No-L (No Smoke, No Liquor)” campaign, which forms part of the university’s structured freshmen orientation activities. For example, during the “มหกรรมรักน้องสร้างสรรค์ No-S No-L ครั้งที่ 16” (Freshmen Orientation & Social Event No-S No-L Vol.16) held in June 2024, the programme was designed with nine activity bases across the campus, including: student club introductions, culture & heritage knowledge, programme orientation, university unit briefings, creative recreational activities to build unity and public-mind, and in the evening a ceremony where new students took a pledge to abstain from drugs and alcoholic beverages. That orientation event explicitly adopted the “No Smoke, No Alcohol” theme.
By integrating the anti-substance abuse campaign with the freshmen orientation’s No-S No-L programme, RMUTL is creating a sustained and comprehensive framework for health promotion, peer leadership and community building.
Current collaborations with health institutions
The university has established partnerships with both local and national health organizations, including the Northern Youth Development Center (NYDC) and the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth or สสส.).
These partnerships play a vital role in delivering effective, evidence-based health promotion activities. The NYDC, operating under the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, focuses on empowering youth and strengthening communities through prevention and rehabilitation programs. Its collaboration with RMUTL brings professional expertise in health education, counseling, and behavior change communication directly to students.
Meanwhile, the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth), a nationally recognized public organization, supports this project financially and strategically. ThaiHealth’s mission aligns with the UN SDGs, particularly SDG 3, through initiatives that tackle public health challenges such as substance abuse, tobacco control, and mental health promotion.
Through these partnerships, RMUTL not only enhances the quality and reach of its internal health campaigns but also contributes to the national-level efforts in promoting health and well-being. Such collaboration demonstrates the institution’s active role in the intersectoral cooperation model — integrating education, health, and social welfare to build healthier societies.
Extending Impact Beyond Campus: Health Outreach Programmes
The university’s initiative serves as a comprehensive health outreach project that extends beyond the academic community to influence local and regional well-being.
By engaging student leaders and staff members in the training, the campaign establishes a peer-led model for sustainable health promotion. Trained students are encouraged to initiate follow-up activities within their faculties, student clubs, and nearby communities — including schools and youth centers. This approach fosters a ripple effect where health knowledge and preventive practices are disseminated at multiple levels of society.
Moreover, RMUTL’s health outreach programs are inclusive and socially responsible. The project addresses not only general student populations but also disadvantaged and at-risk groups, ensuring that health education reaches individuals who may be more vulnerable to the risks of substance abuse.
By promoting substance abuse prevention and overall well-being, the university supports the development of healthier communities surrounding its campuses in northern Thailand. This initiative embodies the spirit of service learning, where students apply classroom knowledge to real-world challenges, thereby enhancing civic engagement and lifelong learning.
In the No-S No-L orientation event, new freshmen participate in culturally-structured, health-focused peer activities that build awareness of substance-free living, foster unity, and embed preventive behaviour from the start of university life. These activities contribute to local community health development and youth empowerment.
Promoting a Smoke-Free University Policy
RMUTL has established and continuously enforces regulations prohibiting smoking and vaping within all academic and administrative buildings.
The “Anti-Smoking” component of the campaign strengthens this policy by providing educational resources, visual campaigns, and positive behavioral interventions. Students participated in discussions about the physical, social, and economic harms of smoking and vaping, as well as the benefits of quitting. Visual displays and digital media within the university reinforced messages such as “Smoke-Free Campus, Healthy Mind, Healthy Future.”
This approach not only enforces compliance but also builds a culture of mutual support and health consciousness. The project helps students internalize the importance of a smoke-free environment, leading to long-term behavioral change and improved community health.
By creating a supportive setting for students and staff to adopt smoke-free lifestyles, RMUTL demonstrates its active promotion of both preventive health and environmental well-being, consistent with national tobacco control strategies and the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).
The “Anti-Drug and Anti-Smoking Campaign” at Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna serves as a strong model of how higher education institutions can effectively integrate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into their educational, social, and policy frameworks.
Reinforcing a Healthy University Culture
The dual initiatives of RMUTL — the anti-drug/anti-smoking campaign and the No-S No-L freshmen orientation — reinforce a coherent and sustainable approach to promoting student well-being and institutional health culture. By starting these messages early (during freshman orientation) and reinforcing them through targeted campaigns, RMUTL ensures that the health-behaviour message is ingrained throughout the student lifecycle.
The anti-drug and anti-smoking campaign targets the knowledge and preventive behaviour among students and staff, while the No-S No-L orientation event builds peer community, unity and shared pledge to abstain from substances. Together they build:
- Awareness of substance abuse risks (drugs, tobacco, alcohol)
- Peer networks of youth ambassadors and student leaders trained to promote health
- A supportive institutional environment that upholds smoke-free and alcohol-free standards
- External partnerships with national and regional health institutions and networks
- Outreach impact that extends from campus to community
These combined efforts not only align with but actively drive progress toward SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being.
References:
- Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna Official news: “มหกรรมรักน้อง No-S No-L ครั้งที่ 16” (June 23, 2024) https://www.rmutl.ac.th/news/25594
- Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna official Facebook page for campaign March 2024 (anti-drug/anti-smoking campaign) – [https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1041389181117435&…]
