EMCDDA at Lisbon AddictionsEMCDDA staff members were among the 1 000 speakers at Lisbon Addictions 2022, which took place from 23–25 November (#LxAddictions22). Under the overarching theme of ‘Global Addictions’, the event showcased the latest scientific knowledge in this domain and explored challenges relating to illicit drugs, alcohol, tobacco, screen addiction, gambling and other addictive behaviours. The next edition of Lisbon Addictions will take place from 23–25 October 2024 under the theme 'Empowering the workforce of the future'. The EMCDDA is one of the conference co-organisers.
Read more >> | EMCDDA staff participation >> |
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NEW PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCES |
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No laughing matter: new report shows rise in recreational use of nitrous oxideA rise in the supply and recreational use of nitrous oxide (‘laughing gas’) is the focus of a new EMCDDA report launched on 21 November. The publication — Recreational use of nitrous oxide: a growing concern for Europe — points to the risks and harms associated with the drug, which is now widely available, cheap and popular among some young people. Over the last decade, there has been a large increase in its recreational use in many regions of the world. In some European countries, particular concerns have been raised since 2017–18, when the drug became more widely available and in larger quantities. Read more >> | EWS25 >> |
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Closing conference of EU-funded technical cooperation projects This month, the EMCDDA hosted the closing conference of its international cooperation projects with the Western Balkans and European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) region. The two-day event was held in the margins of Lisbon Addictions 2022. Under the theme ‘Drugs beyond EU borders: emerging trends and preparedness’, the event focused on cross-border drug-related health and security threats in the Western Balkans and on drug markets and emerging drug-related challenges in the ENP region. The objective of the two projects is to familiarise beneficiaries with EU policies and working methods and to prepare them for consolidated and structured reporting to the EMCDDA.
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New findings on drug markets in the eastern and southern ENP regionsThe emergence of new drug trafficking routes, the expansion of online markets, and the availability of a broader spectrum of substances, are among the findings highlighted in two new regional reports launched on 21 November. Released in the framework of the EU-funded EU4Monitoring Drugs project (EU4MD), the reports provide a picture of the drug market in the eastern and southern European Neighbourhood Policy regions (ENP-East and ENP-South).
News release >> | ENP-East report | ENP-South report |
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New analysis on the drug situation in the Western BalkansDrug-related health and security threats in the Western Balkans is the title of a new EMCDDA report published on 21 November. Released in the framework of the agency’s Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance project (IPA7), funded by the EU, the report provides the latest picture of the drug situation in the region. The publication offers a top-level analysis of drug markets, their drivers, facilitators and consequences, as well as an overview of drug policy and the law, drug use, harms and responses. It concludes with a regional overview of each of the major drug types, focusing on use, production and trafficking.
News release >> | Report >> |
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EMCDDA training for Georgian drug treatment professionals From 14–18 November, Georgian professionals received online EMCDDA training on drug treatment interventions. This was the second edition of a training course piloted in July this year among 15 English-speaking drug treatment practitioners from Georgia. Based on pre-assessed local needs and adjusted according to the evaluation of the pilot training, the course focused on treatment responses to specific drugs and patterns of use. It consisted of six modules: Action framework for developing health and social responses to drug problems, cannabis, opioids, stimulants, polydrug use and the implementation of quality standards for drug services.
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Networking event at LxAddictions22 On 24 November, the EMCDDA organised a networking event in the margins of Lisbon Addictions 2022, aimed at bringing together conference participants from Latin America, the Caribbean and Central Asian countries, in the framework of its international cooperation activities. EMCDDA Director Alexis Goosdeel and staff members were joined by the agency's partners working on technical cooperation projects in these regions. Participants included representatives of the International and Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policies (FIIAPP), the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission/Organization of American States (CICAD/OAS), the Portuguese General Directorate for Intervention on Addictive Behaviours and Dependencies (SICAD) and the SOLID project (Social work and strengthening NGOs in development cooperation to treat drug addiction). Discussions focused on past and future collaboration.
EMCDDA-COPOLAD III >> | EMCDDA-CADAP >> |
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Web survey paper: Luxembourg Results and challenges of running the Web Survey on Drugs in Luxembourg: a major contribution to understanding the drug situation is the latest paper in the EMCDDA's collection Monitoring drug use in the digital age: studies in web surveys. The latest paper shows how the second wave of the European Web Survey on Drugs (EWSD) led to a better understanding of the drug situation in Luxembourg. Until the EWSD, detailed information on the drug situation in Luxembourg was limited, with only a few surveys (often small-scale) having been conducted in the country since the late 1990s. As shown in the paper, the EWSD was able to provide new and complementary information that allowed for deeper insights into patterns of drug use in the country.
Luxembourg paper >> | Collection >> | Background >> | |
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Heads of focal point meetingHeads of the Reitox national focal points (NFPs) met in Lisbon from 28–30 November to discuss network business and the planning of activities for 2023. On the agenda were discussions on the revision of the new EMCDDA mandate, international cooperation projects and recent and future policy and institutional developments. The meeting also showcased highlights of the NFPs' work in 2022 and new digital resources (see below).
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Reitox video releasedReitox: a model European network bridging science, policy and practice is the title of a new EMCDDA video capturing the essence of this, the cornerstone of the EU's drug monitoring system. The video was screened at Lisbon Addictions 2022 in the session 'Policy and practice to tackle addictions around the world'.
Video >> | Session >> |
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New Reitox web pageReitox national focal points — 2022 highlights is a new web page presenting the highlights of the work of the NFPs over the past year. By clicking on a country in an interactive map, users can view a pop-up box presenting three highlights per NFP.
Web page >> |
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EMCDDA and CEPOL sign new accord to boost learning on security issuesOn 28 November, the EMCDDA signed its first working arrangement with the European Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL) in Budapest aimed at boosting learning and knowledge exchange in the area of security. The signatories were EMCDDA Director Alexis Goosdeel and CEPOL Executive Director Montserrat Marín López. The new accord aims to improve the agencies’ capacity to deliver training to the European law-enforcement community and reinforce the drug-related content of training curricula. The ultimate aim is to help reduce the supply of illicit drugs in Europe.
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JHA agencies' meeting, BudapestOn 29 November, the nine EU agencies active in the field of freedom, security and justice convened in Budapest for a high-level meeting, chaired by CEPOL (current chair), to take stock of their main achievements in 2022. This included ongoing engagement with Ukraine and Moldova. The EU Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) agencies have taken significant steps to support EU Member States and institutions in responding to Russia’s military aggression over Ukraine. As discussed at the meeting, further efforts are underway to monitor the situation and help ensure that the collective response meets changing needs.
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European Drugs Winter School 2023‘Displaced populations and drug-related issues’ will be the theme of the European Drugs Winter School 2023, taking place online from 13–24 February (one full-day session will be dedicated to this topic). The two-week course will feature live lunchtime lectures with experts and practitioners, followed by afternoon exercises. Virtual fieldwork tours will also be offered. Completion of exercises and an exam are compulsory for those wishing to obtain credits. The sessions will be recorded and available for subsequent viewing.
EDWS >> | News item >>
Deadlines: Early Bird 10.12.2022. Final 16.01.2023. |
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European Drugs Summer School 2023'Mental health and drug-related issues' will be the theme of the European Drugs Summer School 2023, taking place in Lisbon from 26 June to 7 July. This face-to-face two-week course will include lectures on drugs and mental health, dual diagnosis and integrated interventions. Study visits will be organised to one of the Portuguese commissions for dissuasion as well as to mobile methadone units and a drug consumption room in Lisbon. During the course, students will participate in interactive workshops to discuss their own projects and views. The course will conclude with an open debate with guest speakers, followed by an exam for those wishing to obtain credits. EDSS >> | News item >>
Deadlines: Early Bird 28.02.2023. Final 29.05.2023. |
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Workshop: models of care in prisonsOn 11 November, the EMCDDA co-produced with WHO-Europe and the European Public Health Association (EUPHA) a workshop on 'Models of care in prison: addressing infectious diseases during and after the pandemic in the EU/EEA'. The workshop took place during the 15th European Public Health conference in Berlin (9–12 November). The topic of the c |
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