EU Drug Market: Cannabis
Cannabis products are becoming increasingly potent and diverse, while collaboration between criminal groups is creating new security risks in Europe. These are among the conclusions of a new analysis — EU Drug Market: Cannabis — released on 16 November by the EMCDDA and Europol. The analysis describes the illegal European market for cannabis products, from production and trafficking to distribution and use. It also details the processes, materials and criminal actors involved at different stages and levels of the market.
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Webinar recording available!
'EU Drug Market – Cannabis' was the title of an EMCDDA–Europol webinar held on 16 November. The webinar, featuring presentations by the agencies' experts, launched the cannabis module of the EU Drug Markets: In-depth analysis. This is the fourth comprehensive overview of illicit drug markets in the EU. For those who missed the webinar, a recording is now available.
Webinar >> | Recording >>
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New guidance for drug checking services in health risk communication
Health risk communication strategies for drug checking services in Europe is the focus of a new EMCDDA manual launched on 17 November. The resource provides staff working in these services with practical guidance on communicating drug-related risks at both an individual and community level. Drug checking services are available in 11 EU Member States as well as in other parts of the world. They provide potentially life-saving information on the content of drug samples submitted to them by people who use drugs, based on chemical analysis.
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Key interventions to prevent and control infections among people who inject drugs
Six interventions, one aim: to prevent and control infections among people who inject drugs. In new public health guidance released on 7 November, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the EMCDDA joined forces to identify key interventions to address infectious diseases in this population. Reflecting new evidence, infectious disease treatments and public health concepts, this guidance updates a 2011 edition. To accompany the guidance, the EMCDDA also published two technical reports.
Read more >> | Technical report 1 >> | Technical report 2 >>
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Webinar: practical implications of ECDC–EMCDDA guidance
On 4 December, the EMCDDA and ECDC will be hosting a webinar looking at the practical implications of their recently updated guidance (see above). The webinar will explore the issue from the perspectives of three key stakeholder groups: people-with-lived-experience of drug use, and practitioners and decision-makers working in the drugs field.
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04.12.2023 (13.00–14.30 CET).
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International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
On 25 November, International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the EMCDDA shone the light on its miniguide: 'Women and drugs: health and social responses'. The guide describes how women with drug problems are often victims of gender-based violence and underlines the need for improved data on this issue at European level.
Read more >> | International day >>
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Latest culturally adapted EUPC training course in Portuguese delivered in Brazil
This month, the EMCDDA delivered the latest culturally adapted European Prevention Curriculum (EUPC) basic training course in Portuguese in Brazil. The Portuguese version is the first of three culturally adapted editions of the basic EUPC training course being developed under the EMCDDA-COPOLAD partnership and targeted at Latin American and Caribbean countries. Spanish and English versions are currently being piloted and prepared.
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Call for expression of interest in membership of the EUDA Scientific Committee
This month, the EMCDDA launched a call for expression of interest in membership of the Scientific Committee of the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA). The EUDA, which will replace the EMCDDA, will begin operations on 2 July 2024, the day on which its founding regulation enters into application. The role of the Scientific Committee is to assist the EUDA Management Board and Executive Director by delivering opinions on any scientific matter concerning the agency's activity which they may submit to it.
Read more >> | Deadline: 17.01.2024.
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Call for experts to support the risk assessment of new psychoactive substances
Also launched this month was a call to scientists interested in applying to be on a list of experts who may assist the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) in the risk assessment of new psychoactive substances (NPS). For the purpose of assessing the risks of NPS, the Scientific Committee may be extended as considered necessary by the Executive Director, acting on the advice of the Chair of the Scientific Committee. This entails designating experts from the list who represent the scientific fields relevant for a balanced risk assessment of the substance(s) concerned.
Read more >> | Deadline: 17.01.2024.
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Director presents EDR 2023 at European Parliament
On 27 November, EMCDDA Director Alexis Goosdeel presented the European Drug Report 2023 to members of the European Parliament's Committee for Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE). An exchange of views, which followed the presentation, included interventions from Professor Meni Malliori, representative of the European Parliament on the EMCDDA Management Board, and Iga Jeziorska, member of the core group of the Civil Society Forum on Drugs (CSFD). Also at the meeting, Olivier Onidi, Deputy Director for Migration and Home Affairs at the European Commission, presented the ‘Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the EU roadmap to fight trafficking and organised crime'.
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European Drugs Winter and Summer Schools: Register now!
Have you registered for the 2024 European Drugs Winter or Summer School? A number of bursaries are being offered for these events through the EMCDDA's international cooperation programmes.
Read more >> | Bursaries >>
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European Drugs Winter School 2024
'Gender-sensitive approaches to drug-related issues' will be the theme of the online 2024 European Drugs Winter School (26 February–8 March 2024). Four sessions 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 to students for subsequent viewing.
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European Drugs Summer School 2024
This face-to-face two-week course in Lisbon (24 June–5 July) will focus on 'Psychostimulants in Europe: health and security issues'. Sessions will include lectures on different types of stimulant, emerging new treatment options, harm reduction responses and security issues. 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. The course will conclude with an open debate with guest speakers, followed by an exam for those wishing to obtain credits.
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Call for abstracts!
The call for abstracts is open for the 2024 European Conference on Addictive Behaviours and Dependencies ('Lisbon Addictions 2024'). The event will take place from 23–25 October 2024, under the overarching theme of 'Empowering the workforce of the future'. The upcoming conference will present cutting-edge research to help characterise, understand and respond to addiction and addictive behaviours today. Researchers, scientists or professionals working in the field of addictions can submit their abstracts in one of eight tracks.
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