The EMCDDA is delighted to announce the availability of bursaries for Lisbon Addictions 2024. The bursaries are being offered via the agency's international cooperation projects, funded by the European Union. The bursaries will cover the registration fee to the conference, a round trip to Lisbon and pre-paid accommodation. Professionals, academics and experts of the Candidate and Potential candidates to the EU, European Neighbourhood Policy area beneficiaries and Latin America and the Caribbean are eligible to apply. Eligibility criteria: Being a national of one of the following ..read more

'Drug crime and markets: strategic analysis' is the focus of a training course being hosted at the EMCDDA in Lisbon this week in cooperation with the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL). The course will welcome around 40 law enforcement, customs and criminal justice officers from the Candidate and Potential candidates to the EU, European Neighbourhood Policy area beneficiaries, Latin America and the Caribbean and also the EU. The EMCDDA and CEPOL have been jointly organising this flagship training course since 2017. The course, now ISO-certified, is organised in the ..read more

The latest findings from the largest European project in the science of wastewater analysis are released today in Wastewater analysis and drugs — a European multi-city study, published by the Europe-wide SCORE group, in association with the EU drugs agency (EMCDDA). The rise in cocaine detections across around 50 European cities takes centre stage in this year's study, continuing the upward trend observed since 2016. For the first time, international data (e.g. from Brazil, New Zealand, United States) are presented and comparisons made with European study locations. The project analysed ..read more

An EMCDDA delegation is in Chisinau today for a visit to the Republic of Moldova under the EU4Monitoring Drugs II project (EU4MD II). The visit is organised in close cooperation with the Moldovan Ministry of Health, Ministry of Internal Affairs and the EU Delegation to the Republic of Moldova. The purpose of the two-day visit is to review ongoing cooperation between the EMCDDA and its Moldovan partners. The delegation will learn about the state of play on the creation of a national drug observatory, a national Early Warning System on new psychoactive substances (NPS) and the collection of ..read more

Today, International Women’s Day, the European Drugs Winter School (EDWS) draws to a close, having explored the theme of ‘Gender-sensitive approaches to drug-related issues'.   During the course, the following sessions were dedicated to this topic.   Structural gender inequality and gender differences in adolescent substance use (A multi-level study from 45 countries) — Alina Cosma, Trinity College, Dublin.  Why is a gender perspective needed in the drugs field? Insight from the latest European drug data — Linda Montanari, EMCDDA.  Gender responsive harm ..read more

Today, the 59th meeting of the EMCDDA Scientific Committee drew to a close and we said farewell and a heartfelt thank you to its members. For three decades, the Scientific Committee has been an indispensable pillar of the agency, contributing significantly to its pursuit of scientific excellence. It has advised the EMCDDA Director and Management Board on the agency’s work programmes and on a wide range of scientific matters concerning its activity. It has also played a pivotal role in the risk assessment of new psychoactive substances. The body is composed of 15 high-level scientists from ..read more

Drug trafficking is a highly profitable commercial activity and remains a core business for organised crime groups across Europe today. Understanding the reality of the European drug market requires a holistic approach, following the supply chain from production and trafficking to distribution and use. On 7 March, two EU agencies — the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) and Europol — will present their latest insights and findings on the EU drug market in an online press conference (see below). These insights are described in a new report EU Drug Markets: Key ..read more

This week, the EMCDDA is co-organising, with the Jamaican National Council on Drug Abuse, a series of technical meetings under the COPOLAD III programme. Taking place in Kingston, the events will focus on three topics. Cannabis policies: technical dialogue and bi-regional workshop (29–31 January) This technical dialogue will focus on the current state of cannabis policies in Jamaica, offering an opportunity for exchange with key partners working on the topic (1). A bi-regional workshop focusing on cannabis policy models and evaluation will take place on 31 January, where cannabis policy ..read more

What are the latest changes in the EU opioids market? How are global geopolitical developments impacting supply? Are heroin trafficking routes changing? To what extent do synthetic opioids pose a threat to Europe? These are among the issues explored in a new analysis — EU Drug Market: Heroin and other opioids — released today by the EU drugs agency (EMCDDA) and Europol (1). The analysis describes the European market for heroin (the most frequently used illicit opioid), from production and trafficking, to distribution and use. It also details the processes, materials and criminal actors ..read more

A delegation from the Narcotics and Psychotropic Drug Control Agency of the Libyan Ministry of the Interior is visiting the EMCDDA today for the first time. The two-day visit is organised under the EU4Monitoring Drugs II project, funded by the European Union. The delegation, led by Major General Khaled Almabrok A. Omar, will meet EMCDDA Director Alexis Goosdeel, as well as staff members responsible for the Reitox network, international cooperation and drug-related security. The aim of the visit is to discuss future cooperation between the two agencies and to exchange information about the ..read more