Drugnet Europe:"Issue 149: January 2022"

Το Drugnet Europe είναι μια μηνιαία ενημέρωση ειδήσεων που δημοσιεύεται από το Ευρωπαϊκό Κέντρο Παρακολούθησης Ναρκωτικών και Τοξικομανίας (EMCDDA).

Issue 149: January 2022 STRATEGY Changes ahead for EMCDDA as it embarks on new work programme This month, the EMCDDA launched its latest work programme in the form of the Single Programming Document for 2022–2024. During this period, the agency will prepare itself for new opportunities presented by an upcoming revision of its mandate. Under a new business model, it will also build a digital ecosystem, which will place data networks and partnerships at its core. Work will be achieved in line with an action plan adopted by the Management Board in 2021 and the EMCDDA Roadmap 2021–2025 under its Strategy 2025. Message from the Director >>  Doing the right thing to tackle Europe's drugs problem Use of illicit drugs has changed beyond all recognition since the agency began working in this field over 25 years ago. Now considerably more complex, the drug phenomenon covers a much broader range of substances, behaviours and people. In a new article on our website, EMCDDA Director Alexis Goosdeel talks about the complexities of Europe’s drugs problem today and how the agency is adapting to address new challenges. He describes how drugs are Everywhere, how almost Everything can be a drug and how Everyone can be affected.  A new EMCDDA video echoes this vision and tells the story of emerging threats and appropriate responses.  Read more >> | Video >> GOVERNANCE European Commission proposes stronger mandate for EU drugs agency The European Commission proposed on 12 January to strengthen the EMCDDA's mandate to ensure that the agency plays a more important role in identifying and addressing current and future challenges related to illicit drugs in the EU. The proposed changes include issuing alerts when dangerous substances are knowingly sold for illicit use, monitoring the addictive use of substances taken together with illicit drugs and developing EU-level prevention campaigns. The EU drugs agency will also play a stronger international role. It is now for the European Parliament and the Council to examine and adopt the new mandate. Read more >>  WEB SURVEY Latest European Web Survey on Drugs finds cannabis and ecstasy use most impacted by COVID-19 New survey results released on 20 January reveal that cannabis and ecstasy use are the drug-consumption patterns most impacted by COVID-19 restrictions. The European Web Survey on Drugs found that, while herbal cannabis use increased, use of ‘party drug’ MDMA/ecstasy declined. The survey ran between March and April 2021 in 30 countries (21 EU and 9 non-EU) when many populations were under COVID-19-related lockdowns. Targeted at people aged 18 and over who have used drugs, the survey aims to improve understanding of patterns of drug use in Europe and help shape future drug policies and interventions. Read more >>  LEARNING PLATO e-learning platform and virtual community of practice On International Day of Education (24 January), the EMCDDA launched its new e-learning platform, PLATO, following a successful six-month pilot phase in 2021. The first e-learning course of 2022 on the new platform kicked off on 25 January targeting prevention decision-makers in the substance use field. PLATO, a multilingual integrated platform, is designed to facilitate online training, e-learning and discussion through a virtual community of practice. The pilot phase ran from June to November 2021 and underwent a 360º evaluation in December. PLATO represents a step forward in the agency’s digital transformation and is one of the pioneering outputs of its new customer-centric business model.  Read more >>   Register for the 2022 European Drugs Summer School! The EMCDDA and the University Institute of Lisbon (ISCTE-IUL) are running two joint events in 2022, the European Drugs Winter School (EDWS) and the European Drugs Summer School (EDSS). EDWS: 14–25 February 2022 (online) | Cannabis: practice, policies and debates in the EU and beyond; EDSS: 27 June–8 July 2022 (Lisbon) | Community-based interventions for drug-related issues. Some 30 students had registered for the EDWS by last month's deadline. Applications are now welcome for the EDSS. Deadline: 28 February 2022 (Early Bird) | 5 June 2022 (Final).     Read more: EDWS >> | EDSS >> ADDICTIONS Deadline for abstract submission extended! The organisers of #LxAddictions22 are delighted to announce that the deadline for submitting abstracts to the conference has been extended by one week to 6 February. We acknowledge that, in some countries, high numbers of COVID-19 cases have made it difficult for some applicants to meet the deadline, so we are allowing a little more time. An impressive 385 abstracts have already been received! Read more >> | Deadline for submission: 6 February 2022 Inter-GLAM video contest Inter-GLAM is an EU-funded project which aims to collaborate with a variety of stakeholders to explore global perspectives and trends that shape drug markets and addictions. As one of the co-producers of Lisbon Addictions 2022, Inter-GLAM is organising a video contest for audiovisual pieces related to the topics of the conference. A selection of videos competing for the prizes will be shown during the conference at the Inter-GLAM Cinema. Two types of video are encouraged for submission: Category 1: creatively showcasing an innovative scientific, technical or civil society activity; Category 2: communicating and bringing visibility to stories of impactful and insightful lived experience. Read more >> EU PRESIDENCY France takes over EU presidency with the motto ‘Recovery, strength and a sense of belonging’ On 1 January, France took over the rotating six-month presidency of the Council of the EU with the motto ‘Recovery, strength and a sense of belonging’. In the field of drugs, France will chair the Council’s Horizontal Working Party on Drugs (HDG), with six meetings scheduled with the EU Member States and additional dialogues on drugs planned with international partners (including the United States, China and Brazil). The presidency will have as one of its main objectives discussion on the European Commission’s proposal for a new and stronger mandate for the EMCDDA. It will also stimulate reflection on combatting cocaine trafficking, the impact of drug production on the environment and the drug phenomenon in the internet era. Read more >>  Related links  News | Events | Publications