Contact information
Phone: +32 (0)476967060
Visit us at:
EURAD
96-98, Rue des Confédérés
B-1000, Brussels
Belgium
EURAD
96-98, Rue des Confédérés
B-1000, Brussels
Belgium

The Council of the European Union invites the European Commission to table in 2012 a legislative proposal on new psychoactive substances with a view to revising the Council Decision 2005/387/JHA Read more about Council of European Union Conclusions on Psychoactive Substances
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The Council of Europe (COE) must not be confused with the European Union. COE encompasses 47 member countries from all Europe (including inter alia Russia and Turkey). The main purpose of the COE is to safeguard democratic principles and human rights.
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COE has a number of areas of work that touch upon the drugs problem, in particular in relation to social policy, youth policy and civil society. COE has in addition one sub-group specialised to help member states develope effective drug policies, the Pompidou Group.
Member States decide the work plan for the Pompidou Group on a four year basis at its Ministerial Conference. In between these meetings the work of the secretariat is overseen by a body of Permanent Correspondents from Member States. Its members are officials in relevant government ministries of COE Member States. They meet twice a year. A small bureau of Permanent Correspondents see to the day to day decisions of the Pompidou group.
The Council of Europe has a broad dialogue with civil society on all relevant issues. This dialogue is alled the Conference of International Non-governmental Organisations (INGO).
EURAD has participatory status at COE and takes part in several of the committees of the INGO.
The areas of activity of the Pompidou group cover prevention, treatment and criminal justice. It has groups working on coordination of research and in areas of customs and law enforcement.
Drug prevention remains a priority area in the work of the Pompidou Group. "Life-skills training, building resilience and credible drug policies are at the core of the programmes that actually show prevention effects. Mobilising new potential by involving young people and parents will bring about more targeted and effective prevention."
Treatment, rehabilitation and social aspects of drug use form another significant part of the Pompidou Group’s work.
Work Programme 2007-2010 is here.
Political Declaration of the Ministerial Conference in 2006 is here.

In response to a notified increase in HIV cases among injecting drug users (IDU) in Greece and Romania, the European Commission asked the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) in November 2011 to conduct a rapid inquiry to investigate whether such increases had occurred in other countries. Read more about New EMCDDA Rapid Assessment on HIV in injecting drug users in the EU/EEA, following a reported increase of cases in Greece and Romania

The conference will focus on the theme "From Clinical practice to Public Health: The two dimensions of Brief Interventions" and will be held on 27th - 28th September 2012 in Barcelona. The conference will be in English but translation into Spanish will be available. Read more about 9th Conference of INEBRIA: International Network on Brief Interventions for Alcohol and Other Drugs

The EMCDDA will hold a two-week summer school on illicit drugs in Lisbon from 2nd-13th July 2012. Only 50 places available. Read more about Registration opens for European summer school on illicit drugs

A study from Rhode Island Hospital has found that collaborative behavioral management may be effective in reducing substance abuse in the parole setting. Read more about Using behavioral management to reduce substance abuse, crime and re-arrest among drug-involved parolees