Scientific evidence and data are fundamental elements for the creation of effective public policies, which is why the Latin America-Caribbean-Europe Drug Cooperation Programme has focused for years on providing evidence and improving the work of Drug Observatories in the region.
In December, the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), a collaborating partner of COPOLAD III, participated in the meeting “Early Warning Systems in Response to Opioids and New Psychoactive Substances”, organised by the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) of the Organisation of American States (OAS) and the Canadian authorities. The agency participated, as part of the COPOLAD Programme, remotely in the event, which was held in Port of Spain (Trinidad and Tobago) on 7 and 8 December.
An Expert from the European Observatory participated in a round table on national and regional early warning systems (EWS). He presented the EU early warning system on new psychoactive substances, including its legal basis, composition and organisation, as well as lessons learned in its 25 years of existence.
The EMCDDA participated in the meeting in the framework of its COPOLAD III activities. The COPOLAD III project promotes bi-regional dialogue and cooperation on drug policy between the EU and Latin American and Caribbean countries, and will contribute to strengthening the technical capacity and institutional role of National Drug Observatories (NDOs), including national early warning systems.
The coordinator of the COPOLAD III working group for the strengthening of National Drug Observatories participated in a round table dedicated to practical guides and documents for the implementation of early warning systems on drugs. The working groups elaborated plans for implementing or strengthening early warning systems in different countries.
Lisbon Adictions
On 24 November, COPOLAD III organised a networking event on the margins of Lisbon Addictions 22, which is organised by the Europo Observatory, to bring together conference participants from Latin America, the Caribbean and Central Asian countries in the framework of its international cooperation activities. COPOLAD Director Javier Sagredo, Observatory Director Alexis Goosdeel and members of his staff were accompanied by the agency’s partners working on technical cooperation projects in these regions. Participants included representatives from the International and Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policy (FIIAPP), the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission/Organisation of American States (CICAD/OAS), the General Directorate for Intervention in Addictive Behaviour and Dependencies (SICAD) of Portugal and the SOLID project (Social work and strengthening of NGOs in development cooperation for the treatment of drug dependence). Discussions focused on past and future collaboration.
