Public health: Union strategy on drugs 2000-2004, prevention and reduction of risks of drug dependence

The European Parliament adopted a resolution based on the report by Minerva MALLIORI (PES, Greece) and made several amendments to the Commission's proposal. (Please refer to the summary dated 28/01/03.) Amongst the recommendations to Member States were the following: - to make policies on drug dependence and risk reduction more effective by listening to the experiences of former drug users, families and community drug workers; - to establish tailor-made drug prevention schemes and treatment policies for high-risk environments such as prisons; - to encourage user involvement in the planning, delivery and evaluation of initiatives; - to recognise the value of self-help groups; - to promote programmes which are an alternative to a prison sentence in cases where addicts have committed drugs offences, possibly in conjunction with compulsory withdrawal courses. There are also several recommendations to the Commission, including, in the context of the Community action programme on public health (2003-2008): - to encourage the listing of best practices for the prevention and reduction of risks associated with drug dependence; - to support measures to reduce risks associated with drug dependence as a lifestyle related health determinant; - to seek to incorporate anti-drug strategy into other Community policies.�