Drug-Related Harms in Europe: New EUDA Guidance and Action

The European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) is pushing forward on multiple fronts. Its goal is to address drug-related harms in Europe through new guidance, a growing expert network and a packed 2026 schedule of conferences, training and public webinars.

The agency’s latest update signals a sharpening commitment to evidence-based, integrated approaches. These approaches aim to address drug challenges at their roots across EU member states.

On 17 April, EUDA convened its Health and Social Responses (HSR) Expert Liaison Group in Lisbon. National focal points (NFPs) from across Europe spent a full day in plenary exchanges and focused workshops. They took stock of emerging challenges and helped shape the agency’s ongoing project work.

The message was clear. Drug-related harms in Europe are evolving fast. Existing systems are struggling to keep pace. NFPs highlighted a sharp rise in crack cocaine use. The continued spread of new psychoactive substances is also driving increasingly severe health and social consequences.

These trends make it harder to connect people with the education, support and treatment they need early. As patterns of use shift, the window for early intervention becomes more important than ever. Fragmentation across countries and sectors slows the exchange of tested tools, real-time data and proven responses.

Why the European Drug Response Needs Early Action

Delegates placed the need for stronger, better-coordinated responses firmly at the top of the agenda. Key priorities included raising training standards for frontline professionals. Establishing consistent quality benchmarks for services across Europe also featured prominently. Improving the evidence base to target interventions more effectively rounded out the main themes.

NFPs stressed growing urgency around stimulant-related harms. Understanding in this area remains limited despite rising concern. Tackling drug-related harms in Europe requires action well before problems reach crisis point. That means stronger investment in awareness, education and early support systems.

EUDA is actively exploring ways to increase structured exchanges with member states. The goal is to share tools, insights and proven approaches more quickly across its network. Globally, research shows that every £1 invested in early drug education and prevention saves up to £8 in later health and social costs, underlining why upstream action matters most.

New Miniguide on Dual Disorders

EUDA recently published a practical miniguide on dual disorders. This term refers to situations where a person experiences a mental health condition alongside a substance use disorder. Research shows that unaddressed mental health difficulties significantly raise the risk of problematic substance use. Yet health and social care systems across Europe often treat these conditions separately.

The miniguide brings together current evidence and real-world examples of integrated interventions. It offers accessible, practice-oriented guidance for professionals across health and social systems. Better tools and knowledge help practitioners address the full picture of a person’s wellbeing, not just individual symptoms.

EUDA will host a dedicated series of webinars in September 2026 on dual disorders. The sessions will bridge the gap between research and everyday practice. They will also showcase concrete responses from across EU member states.

Registration is still open for the 2026 European Drugs Summer School. It runs in person in Lisbon from 22 June to 3 July. The programme covers illicit drugs in Europe from multiple angles, including demand, supply and public policy. High-level lectures, practical case studies and networking sessions make up the format.

This year’s theme is “A whole-of-society approach to drugs: from awareness to action.” Communities, institutions, civil society and a wide range of stakeholders all have a role to play. Creating environments where people are better informed and better protected starts with awareness and education.

Speakers include EUDA Executive Director Dr Lorraine Nolan and a representative of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Researchers, practitioners and policymakers from across the continent will also take part. Bursaries are available for eligible participants through EUDA and Iscte, University Institute of Lisbon.

The final application deadline is 8 June 2026.

Prevention Taking Centre Stage in the European Drug Response

EUDA’s prevention team has been increasingly active on the international stage. Prevention expert Rubén Cano contributed to an ISSUP webinar titled “Safety starts early: drug use prevention and violence prevention.” The session explored how early, evidence-based strategies reduce both substance use and violence among young people.

The research is consistent on this point. Protective factors built early in life through schools, families and communities are among the most effective tools for addressing drug-related harms in Europe. Integrated approaches across health, education and community settings deliver the strongest results.

EUDA is also participating in the annual conferences of the International Society of Addiction Medicine (ISAM) and the World Psychiatric Association (WPA). At both events, it will present progress on the European adaptation of the Universal Treatment Curriculum through the EU-COMP project. New evidence on treatment approaches for psychostimulant use disorders will also feature.

Webinars to Watch This Summer

Two EUDA webinars are coming up and worth marking in the diary.

On 27 May 2026, “Ketamine in Europe” features Dr Rita Jorge from EUDA and Dr Wouter van der Sanden from Jeroen Bosch Hospital in the Netherlands. They will examine the emerging profile of ketamine use and its implications for the European drug response. The session runs from 14:00 to 15:00 (WEST). Register here.

On 16 June 2026, “Conceptualising Drug Market-Related Violence” brings together Professor Marieke Liem of Leiden University, Professor Kim Moeller and Dr Mia Maria Magnusson of Malmö University. They will explore how drug markets fuel violence within communities and what evidence-based responses look like. That session starts at 14:30 (WEST).

Both events are free and open to professionals across Europe.

EUSPR 2026: Prevention Science in Dublin

The 17th EUSPR Conference takes place in Dublin from 15 to 18 September 2026. The theme is “Innovation in prevention to support health equity.” Researchers, practitioners and policymakers will gather to advance prevention science across Europe.

EUDA’s team will convene a meeting of the European Prevention Curriculum (EUPC) network at the conference. More than 2,000 professionals have already taken part in EUPC training. The team will present ideas for a new governance model and explore better ways to share knowledge across this growing community. Giving practitioners the latest evidence and skills is how change happens before drug-related harms in Europe take root.

The Dublin conference includes plenaries, interactive workshops and networking sessions. It will be a timely forum for the prevention community to exchange experience and strengthen the collective European drug response.

For further information on upcoming events and resources, visit the EUDA website.

Source: dbrecoveryresources