Representatives from a record 80 countries will be joining members of the EMCDDA this week (22–26 May) for the agency’s eleventh Reitox week. The purpose of this annual event is to provide a platform for the Reitox network and the agency’s international partners to share success stories and challenges in the drugs field and to facilitate the exchange of ideas and collaborative partnerships. In the context of the European Year of Skills, the focus this year will be on empowering through upskilling and learning. The 2023 Reitox week will gather participants from: 29 Reitox NFPs (EU 27, Türk ..read more

National Drug Observatories (NDOs) from Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries are gathering in Lisbon from 22–26 May for a week of activities under the COPOLAD III programme. The overarching theme of the initiative will be strengthening the technical capacity and institutional role of the NDOs (1). The EMCDDA is an official partner of the programme, which promotes dialogue and bi-regional cooperation on drug policy between the European Union and LAC countries (2). 22 May: Annual meeting of the National Drug Observatories — This is the second time that this annual meeting has b ..read more

Today, the EMCDDA and the General-Directorate for Intervention on Addictive Behaviours and Dependencies (SICAD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), formalising their cooperation in the organisation of the European Conference on Addictive Behaviours and Dependencies — ‘Lisbon Addictions’. The signatories of the agreement were SICAD Director-General João Goulão and EMCDDA Director Alexis Goosdeel. Click to enlarge the image Close SICAD Director-General João Goulão ..read more

Increasing knowledge on early-warning systems and complementary data-collection methods will be among the aims of a training event being held this week in Santiago de Chile (25–27 April 2023). Taking place under the COPOLAD III programme, the event is co-organised by the EMCDDA and OAS/CICAD, with the support of Servicio Nacional para la Prevención y Rehabilitación del Consumo de Drogas y Alcohol (SENDA). Following the opening session — featuring speeches from the European Union, EMCDDA, OAS/CICAD and SENDA — Day 1 will focus on early-warning systems (EWS) and new psychoactive substances ..read more

Strategic partnerships and international cooperation perspectives will be the focus of an EMCDDA stakeholder event taking place in Brussels today, ahead of the agency’s new mandate in 2024. The agency’s cooperation with the Western Balkans and European Neighbourhood Policy area (ENP) will be the topic of two consultative meetings, while a special session will be dedicated to ‘Strategic partnerships today and in the future’. The by-invitation event will take place in the Solvay Library. In January 2022, the European Commission proposed to strengthen the mandate of the EMCDDA, transforming it ..read more

A closely monitored substance by the name of hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) is the focus of a new EMCDDA report out today. Synthesised from cannabidiol (CBD) extracted from low-THC cannabis plants (hemp), it is the first semi-synthetic cannabinoid (SSC) to be reported in the EU. Although first described in the scientific literature in 1940, HHC was initially identified in Europe in May 2022. It has been monitored as a new psychoactive substance (NPS) by the EU Early Warning System (EWS) since October 2022. At present, relatively little is known about the effects and risks of using HHC. The ..read more

Analysing potential futures to support decision-making today is an approach increasingly used in a world characterised by rapid, volatile and complex change. More and more organisations, including EU bodies, are now integrating foresight methods into their activities. Against this backdrop, and dynamic developments in the drugs field, the EMCDDA conducted its first futures exercise between 2019 and 2020. A new report out today The future of drug monitoring in Europe until 2030, summarises the findings and lessons learnt from this initiative. Organisations with a futures-oriented mindset are ..read more

The EMCDDA would like to offer its warmest congratulations to former colleague Julián Vicente who has been awarded with the Spanish Cruz Blanca de la Orden al Mérito del Plan Nacional sobre Drogas (White Cross of the Order of Merit of the National Plan on Drugs). This year, the Order of Merit recognised the work of some 20 individuals, entities and public bodies in the drugs field, in a ceremony conducted by the Spanish Minister of Health on 28 February. The Order of Merit has three categories, Gold, Silver and White Cross, the latter recognising exemplary actions and significant dedication ..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 analysis reveals a rise in cocaine and methamphetamine detections and describes how wastewater research can now tell us more. The project analysed wastewater in a record 104 European cities from 21 countries (20 EU + Türkiye) to explore the drug-taking behaviours of their inhabitants. Ketamine was included in the analysis for ..read more

(20.03.2023) EMCDDA Director Alexis Goosdeel starts an official three-day visit to Austria today where he will meet with high-level officials including the Minister of Health, Johannes Rauch, and Minister of Justice, Dr Alma Zadić. The Director will be accompanied by EMCDDA colleagues and by Franz Pietsch, Chair of the EMCDDA Management Board and member for Austria. Taking place in Vienna, the visit will include discussions on the drug situation in Europe and in Austria and will provide opportunities to view examples of the country’s response to the drugs problem, including harm-reduction ..read more