Transcript Document
Psychoactive Substances: Issues For Policy Makers Fay Watson, Secretary General, EURAD Summary • About Us • Psychoactive Substances: Issues For Policy Makers • An update on draft EU legislation on new psychoactive substances About Us We are the only EU network advocating for prevention and rehabilitation focused drug policies Psychoactive Substances: Issues For Policy Makers The Use of Psychoactive Substances: Spikes In Trends Rather Than A Rising Tide? The intertwined markets of NPS and illicit substances • Production: NPS have been found to contain controlled substances (Brandt et al, 2010; Ramsey et al, 2010 & EMCDDA, 2011a) • Distribution: Sold alongside controlled substances on online forums but mostly sold in friendship groups • Consumption: Users of new psychoactive substances frequently have had experiences with other illicit drugs (Wood, 2012; Miller et al, 2009). Evidence of adverse effects exists but few data systems to capture harm of new substances National Responses To NPS • Combined legislative approaches (i.e. Romania) • Consumer legislation (i.e. Poland, Sweden) • Regulated sales (i.e. New Zealand) • Pharmaceutical legislation (i.e. Austria) • Healthcare responses (i.e. WEDINOS, Wales) Public Opinion- Comprehensive Ways To Tackle Drug Problems • 49% think that prevention campaigns would be effective in reducing drug problems • 37% think that rehabilitation would be effective in reducing drug problems • 24% think that addressing social issues (i.e. poverty and unemployment) would be effective in reducing drug problems Public Opinion- Legislative Ways To Tackle Psychoactive Substances Whatever the approach, one of the most important elements is…. An update on draft EU legislation on new psychoactive substances • Proposals announced 17th September 2013 • Proposal includes a reduction in the time taken to respond to NPS at the EU level • Takes a consumer approach rather than a drug control approach An update on draft EU legislation on new psychoactive substances Co-presented by: Wants to know/do more? • Sign up for our e-newsletters! • Join our network: €500 for one year for organisations! Less for individuals! Free access to events, private members area to contribute to policy documents, network groups, free publications and more! • More info at: www.eurad.net Contact Me Fay Watson Secretary General 17 Rue Archimede Brussels Belgium [email protected]