Drugnet Europe,update

 

Issue 167 July 2023 WORLD HEPATITIS DAY 28 July: World Hepatitis Day Every year, on 28 July, the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners commemorate World Hepatitis Day to increase awareness and understanding of viral hepatitis and the diseases it causes. Eliminating hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030 is a target set under the UN Sustainable Development Goal on Health (SDG 3.3). The WHO focused this year on knowing your vaccination status with a campaign 'One Life, One Liver'. The World Hepatitis Alliance continued with its campaign message ‘Hep can't wait!'. Latest data from the EMCDDA on hepatitis can be found in a dedicated section of the European Drug Report 2023 on drug-related infectious diseases. See also our hepatitis topics page.   Read more >> RESPONSES New responses miniguide on older people and drugs Europe overall has an ageing population and people over the age of 40 make up an increasing share of those with an opioid problem. There are currently few interventions targeting the specific needs of older people who use drugs and the evidence base for these interventions needs to be developed. Older people and drugs: health and social responses, our latest miniguide, provides an overview of the most important aspects to consider when planning or delivering responses for older people using drugs. The guide is one of five volumes dedicated to people with vulnerability, forming part of the agency’s Health and social responses to drug problems: a European guide. Read more >> HOSPITAL EMERGENCIES New analysis sheds light on drug-related hospital emergencies in Europe Data from hospital emergency departments show that every year in Europe thousands of individuals experience drug-related poisoning and other harms, requiring some kind of medical assistance. In a new resource, published on 6 July, European Drug Emergencies Network (Euro-DEN Plus): data and analysis, the EMCDDA provides the latest findings on acute drug-toxicity presentations to hospital emergency services. The results show that cocaine is the most commonly reported drug in these emergencies, most presentations are among males, polydrug use is frequent and patients tend to be younger (under 25 years) in the south and east of Europe. Read more >> | Data explorer and analysis >> | Euro-DEN >> SYRINGE ANALYSIS New multi-city syringe analysis uncovers latest patterns of injecting drug use The latest patterns of injecting drug use in a selection of European cities were presented on 14 July in a new analysis from the EMCDDA. The findings are from the agency’s ESCAPE project, which investigates the substances used by people who inject drugs by chemically analysing the content of used syringes. In the latest ESCAPE data-collection round (2022), the contents of 1 845 used syringes were analysed via a sentinel network of harm-reduction sites in 10 EU cities, plus Oslo, Odessa and Tunis. The results show that the drugs being injected in Europe are highly diverse, with a total of 54 psychoactive substances identified. Read more >> | Data explorer and analysis >> | ESCAPE >> PREVENTION EUPC training course for Latin America takes first step in preparing culturally adapted materials This month, 16 experts from five Latin American countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela) participated in an online European Prevention Curriculum (EUPC) basic training course in Spanish. This was the first time for the EMCDDA to deliver an EUPC training course in Spanish for this region. Within the framework of its partnership with the COPOLAD III programme, the EMCDDA is preparing a culturally adapted version of the basic EUPC training course for Latin America and the Caribbean. These versions will be available in Spanish, English and Portuguese.   Read more >> | European Prevention Curriculum >> | COPOLAD III programme >>  GOVERNANCE EMCDDA begins one-year transition period to prepare for new mandate New legislation published on 30 June grants Europe stronger powers to tackle current and future drug problems. The new Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council, revises the mandate of the EMCDDA, in order to keep pace with an ever more complex and rapidly changing drug phenomenon. The Regulation, appearing in the Official Journal of the European Union, sets the EMCDDA on a one-year transition course to prepare to implement the new mandate. The EMCDDA will become the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) on 2 July 2024, the day on which the regulation enters into application. Regulation >> | News release >>  MULTILINGUAL EU4MD drug market report: more languages available The EMCDDA's Overview of drug markets in the European Neighbourhood Policy-East countries, released in English in November 2022, is now available in Azerbaijani, Georgian, Romanian and Ukrainian. Released in the framework of the EU-funded EU4Monitoring Drugs project (EU4MD), the report offers a top-level overview on drug production, trafficking, availability, use and health harms in the ENP-East region and explores the drivers and facilitators of drug markets. The 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.  Read more >>  SECURITY 2022 EMPACT results released On 3 July, the Council of the EU released the 2022 results of the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT), the EU's flagship instrument to fight organised crime. EU-wide law enforcement and judicial actions led to almost 10 000 arrests, over 4 000 victims of human trafficking identified, over 9 000 investigations initiated and EUR 180 million and over 62 tonnes of drugs seized. Crime fighting actions are carried out by law enforcement and judicial authorities at national level supported by EU institutions and EU agencies. An EMCDDA web page presents the 10 EMPACT crime priorities for the period 2022–2025 and the EMCDDA's involvement in this work. Also provided are links to resources highlighting results.  Read more >> | Council press release >>  EU PRESIDENCY Spain takes over EU presidency with the motto ‘Europe, closer' This month, Spain took over the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU with the motto ‘Europe, closer’, reflecting the human, political and institutional closeness of the European project. The presidency will focus on four key priorities: the reindustrialisation of the EU and ensuring its open strategic autonomy; advancing in the green transition and environmental adaptation; promoting greater social and economic justice; and strengthening European unity. In the field of drugs, the focus will be on: people who use drugs and mental health; and special regional plans to tackle drug trafficking in highly affected areas.  Read more >>  RECRUITMENT Human resources analyst – Talent acquisition The EMCDDA is looking for a Human resources analyst – Talent acquisition. The job holder, under the supervision of the Head of the Human resources management sector, will provide support and contribute to the correct and effective implementation of HR processes, in accordance with EU procedures and regulations and towards the achievement of the EMCDDA’s objectives. Duties will include: develop and implement an employer branding strategy and plan, liaise with the EMCDDA’s hiring managers to identify staffing needs and develop job descriptions, draft vacancy notices, source and attract qualified candidates, coordinate selection procedures, and coordinate and manage the onboarding and traineeship programme. Read more >> | Deadline for applications: 15 September 2023.  Head of sector: trends and analysis The EMCDDA is looking for a Head of sector for trends and analysis. The job holder, under the supervision of the Head of unit for public health, will be responsible for coordinating the transversal management of the sector. Duties will include: managing monitoring and epidemiological tasks and statistical analysis, ensuring data management support and data quality, conceiving new EMCDDA monitoring structures, and developing a new data foundation, in close cooperation with the ICT unit. Read more >> | Deadline for applications: 18 August 2023.  Scientific analyst: law enforcement The EMCDDA is looking for a seconded national expert to join its team as a scientific analyst on law enforcement. Duties will include: helping to conceptualise, develop and implement the monitoring of drug supply reduction in Europe, particularly in the field of law enforcement; supporting the development of a network of drug supply experts; analysing, and reporting on, European data on markets, crime and drug supply reduction; and monitoring and analysing the main developments in drug-supply reduction activities and policies in Europe. The post supports the EMCDDA’s overall strategy to contribute to a more secure Europe. Read more >> | Deadline for applications: 31 August 2023.