Public health: Community action programme 1996-2000 on the prevention of drug dependence

OBJECTIVE: adoption of a programme of Community action on the prevention of drug dependence for the period from 1 January 1996 to 31 December 2000. COMMUNITY MEASURE: European Parliament and Council Decision 102/97/EC adopting a programme of Community action on the prevention of drug dependence within the framework for action in the field of public health (1996-2000). SUBSTANCE: The objective of the programme is to help in combating drug dependence, in particular by encouraging cooperation between the Member States, supporting their action and promoting coordination between their policies and programmes with a view to preventing dependence linked to the use of drugs. The actions to be implemented have two main aims: A. Data, research, evaluation B. Information, health education and training. The Annex to the Decision sets out the types of action eligible for Community financial support: - data, research, evaluation: the objective is to improve knowledge of the phenomenon of drugs and drug dependence and their consequences and of means and methods of preventing drug dependence and the risks relating thereto. The principal actions eligible for financial support are as follows: . collection, analysis and dissemination of data, . exploitation of the data and its communication to the European Drugs Monitoring Centre (EDMC), . development of a strategy for research on the prevention of drug dependence (improvement of knowledge as regards the impact of policies targeting drug users and the use of appropriate techniques for preventive purposes), . support for studies on the socio-economic, socio-cultural and psycho-sociological factors associated with drug dependence, . support for studies and actions to prevent risks in drug-dependent pregnant women, reducing the risks associated with the injection of drugs, evaluation of prevention programmes and of the management of drug-dependent prisoners, . support to persons having a positive influence on drug users (families, guardians) and rehabilitation. - Information, health education and training: the objective is to improve information and education, in particular for young people in the relevant environments (family, school, university and leisure time) and vulnerable groups: . support schemes to evaluate the effectiveness of information and health education campaigns (including public opinion surveys), . organization of European Drug Prevention Weeks, . identification and development of the best information tools and methods for target groups (e.g. by taking account of changes in patterns of use and products used, adapting messages to the needs of vulnerable groups, development of activities such as telephone help line services, and consideration of the feasibility of introducing a single telephone number for such services throughout Europe), . definition of guidelines on the prevention of drug abuse within the context of a European network of health-promoting schools, and support for initiatives involving the participation wherever possible of children, young people and their parents, . support for exchanges of experience among those involved in the provision of education, . support for schemes for advising teachers and those responsible for young people, . extension of the European network of 'test towns', so as to promote cooperation on the ways and means used by these towns to reduce drug demand, . support for local prevention initiatives, particularly on a cross-border basis, aimed at vulnerable persons who are difficult to reach (work on the ground and on the streets), . as regards training: promotion of initiatives to improve the drug prevention aspect of vocational training programmes for teachers and those responsible for young people, and development of further-training programmes, teaching materials and modules for those likely to come into contact with drug users (social workers, health-care, police and other law-enforcement professionals), multidisciplinary cooperation between the public and private sector and NGOs. - Implementation: the Commission will ensure the implementation of such actions in close cooperation with the Member States. It will cooperate with the institutions and organizations which are active in this field and encourage multidisciplinary cooperation. The Member States will take the necessary measures to coordinate the programme at national level. - Budget: ECU 27 million for the period 1996-2000. - Consistency and complementarity: the programme will be implemented in line with the Socrates, Leonardo and Youth For Europe (III) programmes and with the work of the EDMC and the European Union's action plan to combat drugs. - Commitology: the Commission will be assisted by a Committee consisting of representatives of the Member States and acting as a Management Committee in respect of all the important programme decisions - notably, the financing of actions - and as an Advisory Committee on other aspects. - International cooperation: the programme will be implemented in cooperation with non-member countries and organizations having responsibility in the field of public health (Council of Europe, WHO, UNESCO, ILO and UNIDCP). It will be open to participation by the associated countries of Central and Eastern Europe (ACCEE), Cyprus and Malta as well as to the EFTA countries. - Monitoring and evaluation: the Commission will be responsible for evaluating the programme. It will submit to the EP and the Council an interim and final report on the programme incorporating the results of the evaluations. ENTRY INTO FORCE: 16 December 1996. �