EMCDDA webinar: Health and social responses to cannabis problems in Europe — time for a paradigm shift?

Objective: To kick off the cannabis webinar series, opening the debate with an all-encompassing overview of the key issues and response options available.

Background:

Cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug in Europe and globally. As well as herbal cannabis and cannabis resin, an increasing range of more novel forms of the drug may now be observed on the illicit market. Regulatory responses are also becoming more variable and complicated, while most health and social concerns still remain focused on illicit cannabis consumption. Effective prevention programmes generally take a developmental perspective and are not substance-specific. Treatment for cannabis problems is based mainly on psychosocial approaches with an increasing focus on digital interventions. Harm reduction for cannabis use has received less attention.

This webinar will involve a discussion with key stakeholders in the following areas:

• cannabis use and harms
• cannabis treatment programmes
• harm reduction interventions

The EMCDDA introductory message will refer to the upcoming launch of the Health and social responses to drug problems: a European guide 2021. The new modular guide, updating the 2017 one-volume edition, is designed to support practitioners and policymakers in tackling the negative consequences of drug use. To be launched in October, it will take the form of a set of miniguides released in three successive bundles covering: drugs, settings and target groups.

• Cannabis use and harms: Jakob Manthey, Ph.D., Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden and Center for Interdisciplinary Addiction Research (ZIS), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE)
• Cannabis treatment: Eva Hoch, university lecturer and lead psychologist at the Department of Psychiatry, Ludwig-Maximilian University, Munich
• Cannabis and social implications: Marie Jauffret- Roustide, Research Fellow INSERM - National Institute of Health and Medical Research, Paris

Chairperson: Jane Mounteney, Marica Ferri

Opening and closing remarks: Alexis Goosdeel

Format: EMCDDA opening remarks, guided discussion with panellists, Q&A with attendees.

Date and time: 8 October,12.00–13.30 Lisbon time (13.00–14.30 CET). Length: 1.5 hours.

Participants: The webinar is open to EMCDDA staff members, the Reitox network and external individuals. Participation is possible upon registration, after which you will receive a link to connect.

A recording of this webinar is available in our Media library.