News releases

Board elects Portuguese member João Goulão as new EMCDDA Chairman

(03.12.2009, LISBON) The EU drugs agency’s Management Board convened for a two-day meeting in Lisbon today, kicking off with elections for Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Board.

João Goulão, Portuguese national drug coordinator and Head of the Institute for Drugs and Drug Addiction — the national focal point in the EMCDDA’s Reitox network — was elected Chairman for the next three years. Dr Goulão has been member of the EMCDDA Board since 2005 and previously served on the agency’s Scientific Committee (1997–2002). A medical doctor by profession, Dr Goulão has over 20 years’ experience in preventing and treating drug addiction in Portugal, having steered a variety of national bodies in these fields. He was also a member of the Portuguese commission which proposed the current national drug strategy.

Role of Community agencies in EU enlargement process reinforced

(27.11.2009, LISBON) With the Lisbon Treaty entering into force on 1 December, the issue of EU institutional reform now moves to the sidelines, offering the chance for EU enlargement to move to centre stage. This was among the opening declarations at the conference ‘Community agencies: partners in accession’, hosted this week by the Lisbon-based EU drugs agency (EMCDDA) in Sintra. Organised at the initiative of the European Commission, the event brought together some 150 participants from the EU Member States as well as candidate and potential candidate countries to the EU.

Candidate and potential candidate countries to the EU meet Community agencies in Portugal

(20.11.2009, LISBON) ‘Community agencies: partners in accession’ will be the focus of a conference hosted by the Lisbon-based EU drugs agency (EMCDDA) in Sintra from 25–27 November, at the initiative of the European Commission. The event is financed by the Commission’s Instrument of Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) programme, through which candidate and potential candidate countries to the EU receive funding to prepare for membership. Reinforcing the institutional and administrative capacity of IPA beneficiary countries is a key requirement for enlargement if they are to be in a position to fully adopt, implement and comply with EU standards.
More information can be found on the IPA conference event page.

NB: The press conference originally planned for the last day of the conference will no longer take place

NB: A conferência de imprensa agendada para o último dia da palestra foi cancelada.

Market innovation and sophistication challenge drug policies, says EMCDDA

(5.11.2009, LISBON EMBARGO 10:00 CET) Europe is faced with an increasingly complex and volatile synthetic drug market, says the EU drugs agency (EMCDDA). Suppliers are now ‘highly innovative’ in their production processes, product ranges and marketing and are demonstrating their ability to adapt quickly to controls. The ‘growing sophistication’ in marketing legal alternatives to illicit drugs (so-called ‘legal highs’) is also a worrying development. The difficulties of ‘hitting a moving target’ are described in the Annual report 2009: the state of the drugs problem in Europe, launched by the EMCDDA today in Brussels.

Figure: Seized methamphetamine production facilities in 2008 and main trafficking flows ( from Methamphetamine: a European Union perspective in the global context)

Table SZR-17, Statistical bulletin: Number of methamphetamine seizures, 2001 to 2007

Table SZR-18, Statistical bulletin: Quantities (kg) of Methamphetamine seized — 2001 to 2007

Figure GPS-21- part i, Statistical bulletin: Trends in last year prevalence of ecstasy among young adults (aged 15 to 34), measured by population surveys

Figure GPS-21 - part ii, Statistical bulletin: Trends in last year prevalence of ecstasy among young adults (aged 15 to 34), measured by population surveys

(5.11.2009, LISBON EMBARGO 10:00 CET) There is little to suggest any improvement regarding cocaine and heroin use in Europe, the two substances that remain at the heart of Europe’s drugs problem, says the EU drugs agency (EMCDDA). Polydrug use is also a major concern, as the range of available substances grows and drug-taking repertoires become increasingly complex. But on a more positive note, new data confirm a continued fall in cannabis use, particularly among young people. These comments come today as the agency launches its Annual report 2009: the state of the drugs problem in Europe in Brussels.

Figure GPS-14 part i, Statistical Bulletin: Trends in last year prevalence of cocaine among young adults (aged 15 to 34), measured by population surveys

Figure GPS-14 part ii, Statistical Bulletin: Trends in last year prevalence of cocaine among young adults (aged 15 to 34), measured by population surveys

Figure TDI-1 part i, Statistical bulletin: Trend in estimated number of new clients entering treatment by primary drug used, from 2002 to 2007

Figure TDI-1 part ii, Statistical bulletin: Trend in estimated number of new clients entering treatment by primary drug used, from 2002 to 2007

Table DRD-2 part i, Statistical bulletin: Number of drug-induced deaths recorded in EU Member States according to national definitions

Table SZR-7, Statistical bulletin: Number of heroin seizures 1995 to 2007

Table SZR-8, Statistical bulletin: Quantities (kg) of heroin seized 1995 to 2007

Figure EYE-1 part xii, Statistical bulletin: Cannabis prevalence rates

Figure 4, Annual report: Different patterns in trends in lifetime prevalence of cannabis use among 15- to 16-year-old school students

Figure GPS-4 part ii, Statistical bulletin: Trends in last year prevalence of cannabis among young adults (aged 15 to 34), measured by national surveys

The past year has been an important one for drug policy, at European and global level. Almost in parallel, the European Union and the United Nations both renewed their drug policy documents, which reflect a strong international commitment to reducing drug use and the harms it can cause. Attaining the goals set out in these documents now constitutes a major challenge and one that can only be met if the actions planned are implemented widely. Monitoring and evaluation are key elements in this process, as they allow policies to be kept on course and progress to be charted.

The full message from the EMCDDA's Director on the occasion of the launch of the 2009 Annual report is available below in 23 languages.

The 2009 headlines and key facts are included in a PowerPoint presentation in 23 languages.

Annual report 2009 from the EU drugs agency

(21.10.2009, LISBON) The Annual report 2009: the state of the drugs problem in Europe — the flagship publication from the EU drugs agency (EMCDDA) — will be launched in Brussels early November.

Please note that the venue of the press conference has changed.
New location: European Parliament press room JAN 6Q2, Joszef Antall Building.

Annual report events page >>

Croatian Deputy Prime Minister and dignitaries pay study visit to EU drugs agency

(21.9.2009, LISBON) Deputy Prime Minister of Croatia, Đurđa Adlešič, visited the EMCDDA today as the country prepares for membership of this EU agency. Ms Adlešič, who is also president of the Commission on Combating Narcotic Drug Abuse of the Croatian Government, was joined by a 20-strong delegation.

EMCDDA Management Board renews mandate of Wolfgang Götz

(1.7.2009, LISBON) During its meeting in Lisbon today, the EMCDDA Management Board decided unanimously to renew the mandate of Wolfgang Götz as Director of the EU drugs agency for a further term of five years starting 1 May 2010. Fifty-seven-year-old Mr Götz was elected EMCDDA Director in spring 2005 and will now hold the Director’s position until April 2015.

 

Advances in brain research throw light on addiction, says EU drugs agency

(24.6.2009, LISBON) How people become addicted to drugs and why they may find it difficult to stop are issues explored by the EU drugs agency (EMCDDA) today in new material released ahead of International day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking (26 June). The information package, dedicated to emerging research in neurobiology, examines the social, ethical and policy implications of scientific developments in this field.

(8.5.2009, LISBON) Experts and policymakers gathering this week in Lisbon for an international conference, underlined the need for rapid and innovative responses to Europe’s changing drugs problem. Organised by the EU drugs agency (EMCDDA), and commemorating 15 years of monitoring Europe’s drug phenomenon, the event was dedicated to 'Identifying Europe’s information needs for effective drug policy'.

EMCDDA to celebrate 15 years of drug monitoring with international conference

(28.4.2009, LISBON) 'Identifying Europe’s information needs for effective drug policy', will be the focus of an international conference to be hosted by the EU drugs agency (EMCDDA) in Lisbon from 6–8 May. Commemorating 15 years of monitoring Europe’s drug situation, the event will reflect on past achievements and future challenges.

Conference website

A news release with highlights from the conference will be uploaded to the website on Friday 8 May at 13.30 GMT.

For press enquiries during the conference, please contact (351) 963240834.

‘ESPAD, a crucial window onto adolescent substance use’, says EU drugs agency

(26.3.2009, LISBON) Use of illicit drugs among 15–16-year-old school students, appears to have stabilised or slightly fallen, according to the latest European study of this group published today by ESPAD. The report, which follows a 2007 survey conducted in 35 European countries, also reveals a decrease in last-month rates of cigarette smoking among school students. However, it sounds the alarm over clear rises in the group’s ‘heavy episodic drinking’, and the narrowing gender gap in this behaviour.