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<![endif]-->The 2010 work programme is the first to fall under the EMCDDA&#8217;s new three-year strategy and work programme (2010&#8211;12). In terms of substantive technical activities, the three-year strategy aims to consolidate the core data sets held by the agency and enable more complex analysis of them. It also scales up and develops some new areas of strategic importance. This means that 2010 will necessarily be a formative and exploratory year during which the structures and approaches needed to deliver the objectives set out in the work programme are put in place.

This country overview provides a structured synopsis of the trends and characteristics of national drug problems in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2009. It consists of a summary of the national drug situation presenting brief information in key&#160; areas (drugs prevalence, prevention, harm reduction, drug laws etc.).

It has been produced within the framework of a technical cooperation and assistance project with the Western Balkans countries financed by the European Commission&#8217;s regional Community Assistance for Reconstruction, Development and Stabilisation (CARDS) fund.

This volume contains the English, Bosnian, Serbian and Croatian version.

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This country overview provides a structured synopsis of the trends and characteristics of national drug problems in Montenegro in 2009. It consists of a summary of the national drug situation presenting brief information in key&#160; areas (drugs prevalence, prevention, harm reduction, drug laws etc.).

It has been produced within the framework of a technical cooperation and assistance project with the Western Balkans countries financed by the European Commission&#8217;s regional Community Assistance for Reconstruction, Development and Stabilisation (CARDS) fund.

This volume contains the English and Montenegrin version.

This country overview provides a structured synopsis of the trends and characteristics of national drug problems in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in 2009. It consists of a summary of the national drug situation presenting brief information in key&#160; areas (drugs prevalence, prevention, harm reduction, drug laws etc.).

It has been produced within the framework of a technical cooperation and assistance project with the Western Balkans countries financed by the European Commission&#8217;s regional Community Assistance for Reconstruction, Development and Stabilisation (CARDS) fund.

This volume contains the English and Macedonian version.

This country overview provides a structured synopsis of the trends and characteristics of national drug problems in Albania in 2009. It consists of a summary of the national drug situation presenting brief information in key&#160; areas (drugs prevalence, prevention, harm reduction, drug laws etc.).

It has been produced within the framework of a technical cooperation and assistance project with the Western Balkans countries financed by the European Commission&#8217;s regional Community Assistance for Reconstruction, Development and Stabilisation (CARDS) fund.

This volume contains the English and Albanian version.

Wolfgang G&#246;tz, EMCDDA Director, and James Mack, Executive Secretary of Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD), met today in the sidelines of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) being held this week in Vienna. The organisations work together under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 1999 between the EMCDDA and CICAD&#8217;s parent body, the Organisation of American States (OAS). The purpose of today's meeting was to review and update developments in the context of the MoU and discuss common interests in developing high-quality data-collection methods. Potential areas for joint activities of a technical nature were also explored. The Directors expressed their satisfaction that a joint EMCDDA&#8211;CICAD manual on developing drug information systems and establishing national focal points will be launched later this year.

Synthetic cathinones are increasingly being reported to the EMCDDA and Europol via the EU early-warning system (EWS). These &#8216;designer&#8217; compounds, structurally related to amphetamine, are derivatives of the parent compound cathinone, one of the psychoactive ingredients found in khat.

Some 15 synthetic cathinones are currently being monitored through the EWS, among these mephedrone. On 20 January, following an examination of the available information on mephedrone to date, the EMCDDA and Europol agreed to launch a formal procedure to collect further information on the substance in accordance with the Council Decision on the information exchange, risk assessment and control of new psychoactive substances. This will lead to the production of an EMCDDA&#8211;Europol Joint report to be presented to the Council of the EU, the European Commission and the European Medicines Agency. On the basis of this report, a decision can be taken on whether or not to launch a formal risk-assessment procedure on the substance.

Related links

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ECDC&#8211;EMCDDA threat assessment

On 11 February, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the EMCDDA released a joint threat assessment report on the recent anthrax outbreak among drug users in the UK and Germany. ECDC is coordinating this issue at EU level in cooperation with the European Commission, while the EMCDDA is playing an advisory role and supporting the dissemination of information through its networks.

A number of decentralised agencies have been set up by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union to carry out specific legal, technical or scientific tasks within the European Union system. The majority work independently alongside the main EU institutions, adding value by helping to implement policy and promote the sharing of information and expertise in areas that impact on the lives of Europe&#8217;s 500 million citizens.

This brochure gives an overview of the missions of the EU agencies and describes our common objectives to strengthen the service we deliver to the EU institutions and ultimately to all EU citizens.

Drugnet Europe, the EMCDDA's quarterly newsletter, provides regular information on the Agency's activities to a broad readership.In this issue: 2010 work programme and budget; EMCDDA and Europol step up information collection on mephedrone; upcoming Guidelines for collecting data on retail drug prices in Europe; European drug prevention quality standards; EMCDDA signs accord with Ukrainian Ministry of Health; new Czech penal code enters into force; EMCDDA Management Board &#8211; changes at the helm; new products and services.

This report reviews developments in the neuroscience of addiction, explores how they might affect the way we view and treat drug problems, and considers the issues that they raise for drug policy in Europe. In language that is easily accessible, the report presents the complex brain processes involved in addition and the ethical implications inherent to current addiction research.

This briefing paper for policymakers presents how new discoveries in neurobiology have the potential to transform our perception of drug addiction and its treatment, whilst also considering the ethical issues such treatment can raise. It balances an analysis of the latest developments in the field with a call for rigorous testing before implementation.

Drugnet Europe, the EMCDDA's quarterly newsletter, provides regular information on the Agency's activities to a broad readership.In this issue: EMCDDA releases Annual report 2009; Selected issues 2009: Drug offences: sentencing and other outcomes and Polydrug use: patterns and responses; EMCDDA-CARDS project with the Western Balkans; Bridging the research gap in the field of illicit drugs in the EU.

Smokable herbal mixtures under the brand name &#8216;Spice&#8217; are known to have been sold on the Internet and in various specialised shops since at least 2006 and anecdotal reports suggest that those products may have been available as early as 2004. Although advertised as an &#8216;exotic incense blend which releases a rich aroma&#8217; and &#8216;not for human consumption&#8217;, when smoked, Spice products have been reported by some users to have effects similar to those of cannabis.

The sentences that offenders receive for drug law violations across the European Union are examined for the first time in this &#8216;Selected issue&#8217;. By analysing the most recent year&#8217;s statistics, this report attempts to answer the question: What is the most likely outcome for an offender after being stopped by police for a drug law offence of use or personal possession, or supply or trafficking? An online annex provides links to results by country (pdf).

A multilingual summary of the contents is available >>

This 'Selected issue' looks at the concomitant or consecutive use of different licit and illicit drugs (polydrug use) among adolescents, young adults and problem drug users. Data from school and general population surveys, and on drug treatment entrants and drug-related deaths are analysed to describe the many forms and consequences of this widespread pattern of drug use. The responses to polydrug use in Europe are reviewed in the light of the scientific literature, with the aim of identifying the most effective interventions. An online annex provides links to additional tables and figures.

A multilingual summary of the contents is available >>

The report on the state of the drugs problem in Europe presents the EMCDDA's yearly overview of the drug phenomenon. This is an essential reference book for policymakers, specialists and practitioners in the drugs field or indeed anyone seeking the latest findings on drugs in Europe. Published every autumn, the report contains non-confidential data supported by an extensive range of figures.

The conference Identifying Europe&#8217;s information needs for effective drug policy marked the 15th anniversary of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), and our activity of monitoring drugs and drug addiction in the European Union. It had several objectives: to better understand the current needs of policymakers, practitioners and researchers, to identify new developments in the drugs field and new results of drug-related research, and to provide input on the future work of the EMCDDA and its partners.

This publication summarises the presentations and discussions from the plenary and parallel sessions. It reflects the dynamism and commitment of those who study and respond to the drugs problem, and who made the conference such a productive, stimulating and successful event. The content of this publication will therefore be a vital tool for guiding the further development of our activities here in Lisbon.

The European Union and Ukraine will share information on drugs more systematically in future, thanks to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in Kiev today between the EU drugs agency (EMCDDA) and the Ukrainian Ministry of Health.

The accord is the fruit of bilateral talks initiated in Lisbon in 2006 between the EU drugs agency and the&#160; Ukrainian authorities, and follows a series of working meetings and diplomatic visits. The EMCDDA Management Board adopted the MoU at its meeting in Lisbon in December 2009 on the eve of that year's&#160;&#160; EU-Ukraine Summit (4 December, Kiev).

The Ukrainian Medical and Monitoring Centre on Drugs and Alcohol (UMMCDA) of the Ministry of Health has been appointed the national centre to collect and analyse data on the Ukrainian drug and alcohol situation.&#160;&#160; The new agreement establishes cooperation between the EMCDDA and the Ukrainian competent bodies (particularly the UMMCDA) in the collection, processing and dissemination of drug information.

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Europe is faced with an increasingly complex and volatile synthetic drug market, says the EU drugs agency (EMCDDA). Suppliers are now 'highly innovative' in their production processes, product ranges and marketing and are demonstrating their ability to adapt quickly to controls. The 'growing sophistication' in marketing legal alternatives to illicit drugs (so-called 'legal highs') is also a worrying development. The difficulties of 'hitting a moving target' are described in the Annual report 2009: the state of the drugs problem in Europe, launched by the EMCDDA today in Brussels.Full details are available in this news release.

Cocaine and heroin are maintaining a firm hold on Europe's drug scene and there is little to suggest any improvement regarding their use. Polydrug use is also a major concern, as the range of available substances grows and drug-taking repertoires become increasingly complex. But on a more positive note, new data confirm a continued fall in cannabis use, particularly among young people. These were among the key points stressed by the EMCDDA as it launched its Annual report 2009: the state of the drugs problem in Europe on 5 November in Brussels. Full details are available in this news release.

The EMCDDA will be launching its Annual report on the state of the drugs problem in Europe on Thursday, 5 November in Brussels. Full details and supporting material on the event can be found on the Annual report event page .

Press contacts

Helpdesks will operate at the EMCDDA (Lisbon) on the day of the launch to answer journalists' questions.

Before 5 November (for details on the launch, scheduling interviews, etc), please ask for the press office at:&#160; Tel. ++ 351 211 21 02 00

A new 'module' released today in the EMCDDA's best practice portal examines the evidence of efficacy for different types of drug treatment: pharmacological treatment and psychological treatment . The module summarises the current scientific evidence base for different types of drug treatment based on the most recent (systematic) reviews and meta-analyses.

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Many of the accidents and deaths that occur on European roads are caused by drivers whose performance is impaired by a psychoactive substance. Alcohol alone is estimated to account for up to 10&#160;000 road deaths a year in the EU, one quarter of all road deaths. But no comparable figures are available for road accidents relating to illcit drugs and psychoactive medicines. This means that, with no clear picture of the problem, tailoring responses will prove difficult.

The need to gather evidence on drugs and driving, as a basis for effective responses in prevention and enforcement, is underlined in the latest edition of Drugs in focus, the EMCDDA's policy briefing. In it, the agency summarises key issues now facing policymakers in this area and outlines innovative developments.

'Reducing the loss of life caused by driving under the influence of psychoactive substances requires measures that are based on a scientific understanding of this complex phenomenon', says EMCDDA Director Wolfgang G&#xf6;tz. 'The challenge to legislators is to design sound and effective laws that can be enforced, and that give a clear message to the public'.

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Our quarterly newsletter, Drugnet Europe 67 (July to September 2009), with all the latest drug related news in Europe, is now available for download from our site.

This work programme ensures that the EMCDDA remains a key resource for Europe: providing high-quality information to underpin effective drug policies and serving as a catalyst for supporting and developing national information systems. The work programme builds on progress made in our existing strategy and is adapted to reflect the changing nature of the European drugs problem. It is both comprehensive and concrete.

The overall strategy is based on some core EMCDDA values. These are: to concentrate on the basic information tools necessary for describing the drugs problem and responses to it; to ensure our work delivers maximum value and is relevant to the needs of target audiences; to acknowledge that achievements result from partnership and effective working with others: and most fundamentally of all, that the agency's worth lies in its impartiality, integrity and scientific rigour.

Methamphetamine: a European Union perspective in the global context

This publication is the first in a series dedicated to prevalent illicit synthetic stimulant drugs, also known as amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS). The ATS category is made up of two groups of substances.

This study focuses on the supply and use of methamphetamine in Europe, set in a global context. Methamphetamine is probably the most widely consumed synthetic stimulant in the world. In many countries across the globe it is reportedly the second most prevalent illicit drug after cannabis.

During its meeting in Lisbon today, the EMCDDA Management Board decided unanimously to renew the mandate of Wolfgang G&#xf6;tz as Director of the EU drugs agency for a further term of five years starting 1 May 2010. Fifty-seven-year-old Mr Gotz was elected EMCDDA Director in spring 2005 and will now hold the Director's position until April 2015.

The Chairman of the Board, Mr Marcel Reimen, welcomed the re-appointment of Mr Gotz stating: 'He has shown full commitment to the endeavour he embarked upon in 2005, in particular enhancing the scientific quality and efficiency of the agency's work'.

How people become addicted to drugs and why they may find it difficult to stop are issues explored by the EMCDDA in new material released ahead of International day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking (26 June). The information package, dedicated to emerging research in neurobiology, examines the social, ethical and policy implications of scientific developments in this field.

How addiction is understood by society plays a pivotal role in shaping drug laws, policies and interventions. Drug addiction can be viewed as a disorder whereby the individual loses control over his or her consumption. Addicts may wish to quit, but find it hard to do so, despite often experiencing negative effects. Advances in brain research now provide a better understanding of how dependence develops, and offer the potential for new prevention strategies and psychological and pharmacological treatments. These issues are addressed in the EMCDDA monograph Addiction neurobiology: ethical and social implications .

Also released is an EMCDDA briefing paper for policymakers, Neurobiological research on drugs: ethical and policy implications .

The General report of activities is an annual publication providing a detailed progress report of the EMCDDA's activities over a 12-month period. Published every spring, it catalogues the Centre's achievements in each area of its annual work programme. The report is a useful information source for all those seeking comprehensive information on the Centre and its work.

The latest issue of Drugnet, the newsletter of the EMCDDA, is now available.

In this issue: 15 years of drug monitoring in Europe; new European study on Internet-based drug treatment; ESPAD, a crucial window onto adolescent substance use; EMCDDA and Europol step up cooperation; World drug policy: priorities for the next decade.

The EMCDDA published today (7 May 2009), a comprehensive review of the relatively new phenomenon of Internet-based drug treatment interventions (DTI) as part of its Insights series. The review, ' Internet-based drug treatment interventions ' presents a sample of Internet-based DTI programmes across Europe and outlines their methodologies, providing a series of screenshots to further demonstrate the websites' content and to provide an overall impression of the types of online treatment available. This publication is a useful resource for researchers, policymakers and the general public, to gain an insight into the potential for the Internet to become a new channel for drug treatment intervention.

'Identifying Europe's information needs for effective drug policy', will be the focus of an international conference to be hosted by the EU drugs agency (EMCDDA) in Lisbon from 6-8 May. Commemorating 15 years of monitoring Europe's drug situation, the event will reflect on past achievements and future challenges.

Independent, science-based information is a vital resource to help Europe understand the nature of its drug problems and better respond to them. It was on this premise, and in the face of an escalating drug phenomenon, that the EMCDDA was established in 1993. Following preliminary monitoring tasks in 1994, the agency was inaugurated in Lisbon the following year.

Visit the conference web page for more information.

The use of illicit drugs among 15 to 16-year-old school students, appears to have stabilised or slightly fallen, according to the latest European study of this group published today by ESPAD. The report, which follows a 2007 survey conducted in 35 European countries, also reveals a decrease in last-month rates of cigarette smoking among school students. However, it sounds the alarm over clear rises in the group's 'heavy episodic drinking', and the narrowing gender gap in this behaviour.

This is the fourth data-collection wave conducted by the ESPAD project, with multi-national surveys carried out in 1995, 1999, 2003 and 2007. Over 100&#160;000 school students took part in the latest survey. Of the countries participating, 25 were EU Member States. The 2007 ESPAD report: substance use among students in 35 countries, available in English, will be complemented by a multilingual summary produced with the support of the EU drugs agency (EMCDDA). The EMCDDA includes ESPAD data in its annual reporting on the drug situation and the two bodies work closely together under a cooperation framework signed in 2007. One of the aims of this accord is to broaden access to the information and expertise gathered by the project.

More information is available in the EMCDDA news release on the subject.

FC.09.ADM.004.1.0 - provision of interim services for the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction in Lisbon, Portugal

The EMCDDA has published the following invitation to tender: 2009/S 56-079960

The invitation was published in the Official Journal of the European Communities N&#xb0; S56 on 21/03/2009 and is available in all the European languages. Only the text published in the OJ is authentic.