The 1999 Portuguese National Strategy for the Fight Against Drugs defined the general objectives in the drugs field and is currently being implemented through the National Strategic Plan 2005–2012 which focuses on four main ideas: geographical proximity, integrated approaches and responses, focus on the citizen, improving quality and accreditation mechanisms. The objective set for the strategic plan is to significantly reduce the use of drugs amongst the population and its negative social and health consequences.
The Strategic Plan is complemented by a National Plan Against Drugs and Drug Addiction 2005–2008 which covers the areas of coordination, international cooperation, information/research/training/evaluation, the legal framework, demand reduction and supply reduction, and identifies for each action the party or parties responsible, a timetable and the indicators/assessment instruments to monitor the plan’s implementation.
An internal evaluation of the implementation of this action plan was finished in 2009 and used as a basis for the new action plan 2009–2012.
