Drugs and Substance Dependance

New amendments to working arrangement by EMDCA (European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction) and EMA (European Medicines Agency)

The first agreement was signed in 2010, but in light of recent legislation on pharmacovigilance, changes were needed to the document. The new pharmacovigilance legislation is comprised of Directive 2010/84/EU and Regulation (EU) No 1235/2010. This new legislation is designed to strengthen Europe’s systems for medicines safety. The new arrangement includes exchange of information between EMA and EMCDDA concerning about abuse of medicinal products including information related to (...)

Austerity threatens Portugal’s drug program

The cuts to Portugal’s drug programme, combined with an increase in hard drug abuse, could be the beginning of a serious problem for this south European country. Drug policy in Portugal is a distinct model for many countries across the world. (Norway and Argentina even considered implementing parts of the Portuguese model). Yet, due to budget cuts coupled with an increasing consumption of hard drugs, Portugal’s successful approach to tackle drug abuse may become unaffordable. (...)

Council Conclusions on the EU Drugs Strategy 2013-2020

In view of the forthcoming adoption of the EU Drugs Strategy 2013-2020, the Council of the European Union published in June its Conclusions on the Strategy. EPHA summarises these below. The Council conclusions on the new EU Drugs Strategy lay out the state of play of the drug use and its implications in the EU: heroin use is the biggest drug problem, cannabis is the most commonly illicit drug used in the EU, followed by cocaine, worrying developments are happening in the synthetic (...)

The European Medicines Agency launches website on new European database of suspected adverse drug reaction

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) launched last May 31st the new European database of suspected adverse drug reaction reports website. The launch of this website is a positive first step in the implementation of the EudraVigilance access policy. The information carried on the site relates to approximately 650 medicines and active substances authorised through the centralised procedure. Within a year the EMA aims to additionally publish suspected side-effect reports for common drug (...)

Alcohol harms you, others and the society - why does Europe need an alcohol strategy? 27 June 2012, European Parliament, Brussels

The European Alcohol Policy Alliance, Eurocare invites you to an event on the future of EU Alcohol Strategy on the 27th of June 2012. The European Alcohol Policy Alliance, Eurocare, invites you to an event on the future of EU Alcohol Strategy, organised in cooperation with Eurohealthnet, European Transport Safety Council, European Council Leagues and kindly hosted by Anna Hedh MEP (S&D, Sweden). Date: 27th June Time: 9h00 till 12h00 Place: European Parliament, Brussels Register for (...)

Getting drugs online: Illegal online pharmacies target young people

The International Narcotics Control Board published its Annual report 2011 in which it warns that an increasing number of illegal Internet pharmacies in the world target young audiences via social media - increasing risks of long-term addiction to medicines. The International Narcotics Control Board has chosen to highlight this new trend as national and international regulations find it difficult to address the issue so far. The Annual report 2011 points out that illicit drugs or (...)

"Brewers’ Pledge is nothing but a Public Affairs exercise" says EPHA

On the occasion of an event in the European Parliament marking the Brewers’ of Europe’s "Brewers’ Pledge" EPHA has issued a reaction, expressing our scepticism at the ability of modern technology and self regulation to tackle the enormous harms caused by alcohol misuse in Europe. EPHA has released the following comments today (28 February 2012) on the occasion of an event organised by the Brewers’ of Europe launching what they have called the ’Brewers’ (...)

EPHA Response to the Commission Consultation on Drugs

EPHA responded to the Consultation on the European Commission Communication "Towards a Stronger European Response to Drugs”. Drug use constitutes a serious threat. It represents an obstacle to human development and achievement, a public health threat but also a threat to economies and political stability. In its response to the Consultation, EPHA highlights the following issues of importance when tackling drug use: acting on the drug supply is crucial, so is acting on the drug (...)

First European quality standards to improve drug prevention in the EU

The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) published the first European quality standards to improve drug prevention in the European Union. It is designed as a Manual for professionals who, directly or indirectly, contribute to drug prevention. The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction launched the first European quality standards to improve drug prevention in the European Union. This Manual follows up from the EU Drug Action Plan 2009-2012. In (...)

Workshop in the European Parliament on new psychoactive substances - report

On the 29 June, the European People’s Party organised a meeting in the European Parliament to discuss new psychoactive substances. Chaired by MEP Boguslaw Sonik (Poland) and MEP Oana Elena Antonescu (Romania), the hearing aimed to discuss the scale of the phenomenon of psychoactive substances which have become a legal alternative to illicit drugs. Psychoactive substances are a growing concern across the European Union, notably that new synthetic or herbal drugs are marketed as legal (...)