Drugreporter

09/01/2025

In the framework of the CORE EU project, we filmed at two community-based centers run by G*T Portugal in Lisbon. They are excellent examples of building effective HIV responses on peer work! *TPortugal

08/01/2025

In the framework of the CORE EU project, we filmed at two community-based centers run by G*T Portugal in Lisbon. They are excellent examples of building effective HIV responses on peer work! This is: CORE https://core-action.eu/

20/12/2024

In the framework of the CORE EU project, we filmed at two community-based centers run by G*T Portugal in Lisbon. They are excellent examples of building effective HIV responses on peer work! Check it out!

13/12/2024

Don't miss Drugreporter's recap video of the 6th European Harm Reduction Conference, that took place at the Palace of Culture and Science in Warsaw, Poland, on 2-4 December 2024! At its bi-annual gathering the European harm reduction movement addressed the multiple challenges of our time: rising populism, shrinking space for civil society, changing drug markets and changing needs of people who use drugs.

11/12/2024

You can now listen to the 2024 EHRC Sessions in podcast format as well! Links in the article:

Drugreporter brings you live streams from for EHRC 2024 in Warsaw, Poland. Follow key sessions and side events all day between 02-04 December, here!

09/12/2024

We proudly present our videos filmed at the Interdisciplinary Conference on Psychedelic Research (ICPR) in June 2024, featuring many fascinating new research findings and incredible insights from world-renowned scientists and authors.

It is always one of the highlights of the year to attend the International Conference on Psychedelic Research (ICPR) and submerge into the mysterious world of psychedelics. This is a rapidly growing multidisciplinary research field with many exciting dimensions from the treatment of mental health problems to spiritual growth, from philosophy of mind to psychedelic art and culture. Psychedelics hold a promise to revolutionise our thinking on not one of these subjects. We interviewed many conference speakers and produced a longer (31:57) and shorter (5:39) video, we hope you will find these films helpful in gaining better understanding on how these substances catalyse social, psychological, cultural and spiritual change.

We proudly present our videos filmed at the Interdisciplinary Conference on Psychedelic Research (ICPR) in June 2024, featuring many fascinating new research findings and incredible insights from world-renowned scientists and authors. It is always one of the highlights of the year to attend the Inte...

06/12/2024

Our conference video from the 6ht European Harm Reduction Conference in Warsaw - watch and share!

At its bi-annual gathering the European harm reduction movement addressed the multiple challenges of our time: rising populism, shrinking space for civil society, changing drug markets and changing needs of people who use drugs. Watch our film we produced at the conference! The 6th European Harm Red...

04/12/2024

Satellite Event: Dealing with drugs II – Cities and the international pursuit of sensible regulation – How to regulate substances: detailed blueprints for local level experiments (15:30 – 16:45)

By zooming in to the practical aspects of regulation, the debate can move from the why, to the how of regulation. As author of several ‘how to’ books, Steve Rolles has become one of the most knowledgeable advisors for governments and cities. Pieter Walinga will present a practical canvas that can be used to design experiments with regulation of different substances.

By zooming in to the practical aspects of regulation, the debate can move from the why, to the how of regulation. As author of several ‘how to’ books, Steve ...

04/12/2024

LIVE from EHRC 2024: Satellite Event: Dealing with drugs II – Cities and the international pursuit of sensible regulation – Opening (14:00 – 15:00)

The mayor of the City of Amsterdam invites cities, European and international stakeholders to join her in the pursuit of a more just and humane drug policy.

The satellite event delves into how controlled regulation can provide solutions and how initial experiments can be wisely designed and sensibly executed. The event builds on the outcomes of the Dealing with Drugs Conference in January 2024.

Highlights of the program, that will be moderated by Steve Rolles (Transform Drugs):

The mayor of Amsterdam, Femke Halsema, and the High Commissioner for the Human Rights Volker Türk (by video message) will set the scene for the event, stressing the importance of searching for alternative approaches to drug policy. Ambassador of Colombia Laura Gil will speak about her experiences in the complex world of international cooperation. Keynote speaker Neil Woods will dive into the mechanisms that explain why the war on drugs is not effective.

The mayor of the City of Amsterdam invites cities, European and international stakeholders to join her in the pursuit of a more just and humane drug policy.T...

04/12/2024

LIVE from EHRC 2024: Think Global, Act Local – the important role of cities in innovating drug policy and practice + Wrap-Up Session (11:00 – 13:00)

Cities are at the forefront when it comes to the development and implementation of innovative health, social and drug policy responses.. They are “the places where both problems emerge and solutions are found” and are hotspots for identifying new drug patterns, social disparities, and healthcare needs, profoundly impacting the lives of urban residents. Moreover, cities often serve as pioneers, offering models for other urban areas globally.

This Panel Discussion will bring together mayors, local policy and decision-makers, and drug policy experts to explore local drug policy challenges, share experiences and best practices, and discuss how cities can craft innovative, evidence-based drug policies, including models for decriminalisation and regulation.

Organised as part of the European City Initiative on Drug Policy—launched by C-EHRN in 2024—this session will also introduce the EHRC2024 Satellite Event, Dealing with Drugs II – cities as incubators in the international quest for regulation, hosted by the City of Amsterdam on Wednesday afternoon, directly following the conference.

Scheduled for Dec 4, 2024, 11:00 AMCities are at the forefront when it comes to the development and implementation of innovative health, social and drug poli...

04/12/2024

LIVE from EHRC 2024: Scaling up HIV and HCV prevention treatment and care in community-based settings (9:00 – 10:30)

The session will provide exemples on what challenges organisations face to tackle HIV/HCV in Portugal and Slovenia and then highlight practical interventions and experiences in the field of data collection, digital skills, community involvement and advocacy for better HIV/HCV policy and practice, based on the experiences of the BOOST project.

Scheduled for Dec 4, 2024, 9:00 AMPeople who use drugs and other marginalised groups, such as people experiencing homelessness, s*x workers or migrants, are ...

03/12/2024

LIVE from EHRC 2024: War in Ukraine (15:30 – 17:00)

The session “Harm Reduction in the War in Ukraine” will explore innovative strategies developed to address the complex challenges posed by the war on Ukraine.

Scheduled for Dec 3, 2024, 3:30 PMThe session "Harm Reduction in the War in Ukraine" will explore innovative strategies developed to address the complex chal...

03/12/2024

LIVE from EHRC 2024: Cannabis Regulation and Harm Reduction (13:30 – 15:00)

This conference session will explore the evolving cannabis policies in Europe and the role of harm reduction in these regulatory shifts. It will cover key findings from studies in Switzerland, Germany, and France, examining how regulated cannabis access impacts user behavior and public health. The session will highlight Switzerland’s pilot projects on regulated cannabis sales and discuss the broader implications for European policies, which are increasingly rooted in harm reduction principles.

This conference session will explore the evolving cannabis policies in Europe and the role of harm reduction in these regulatory shifts. It will cover key fi...

03/12/2024

LIVE from EHRC 2024: Legally grey? Discovering loopholes in the national laws for drug checking services (11:00 – 12:30)
Despite the fact that drug checking services have been provided for a long time in many countries, such as the Netherlands, Portugal, United Kingdom, Spain, and Switzerland, they all operate in a legal grey area. It basically means that they’re not explicitly illegal – but they’re not legal either. In 2022, Aotearoa New Zealand became the first country in the world to fully legalise drug checking services. This allows people to get their drugs tested at festivals, clinics, and other locations to identify the substances present and make informed decisions about use. There are still many countries in Europe (and in the world), which are afraid of providing drug checking services, because of the “legality” of the service. However, practise shows, that there are many loopholes in the laws and overcoming it can help in starting provision of drug checking services.

The aim of this session is to explore how organizations can overcome legal barriers, to be able to provide drug checking services.

Despite the fact that drug checking services have been provided for a long time in many countries, such as the Netherlands, Portugal, United Kingdom, Spain, ...

03/12/2024

LIVE from EHRC 2024: Drug Consumption Rooms in Europe
(9:00 – 10:30)

For more than 30 years, Drug Consumption Rooms (DCRs) have been implemented in Western countries. These services, typically aim to reduce overdose-related morbidity and mortality, prevent the spread of infectious diseases and provide access to a broad range of medical and social support services. As frontline, low-threshold services, DCRs are also often among the first sites where insights into new drug use patterns and they therefore play an important role in the early identification of new and emerging drug trends. In addition, DCRs may also have the objective of reducing drug use in public and to improve public amenities.

This session aims to contribute to an informed discussion about DCRs, by presenting the available evidence, reviewing the various models being adopted and their characteristics, as well as (legal) preconditions and considerations that would allow this public health service to be integrated and balanced continuum of drug policy initiatives.

Scheduled for Dec 3, 2024, 9:00 AMFor more than 30 years, Drug Consumption Rooms (DCRs) have been implemented in Western countries. These services, typically...

02/12/2024

Medication assisted therapies in EECA: status and progress (16:00 – 17:30)

The session provides an overview of the status and progress made in the EECA region to respond to the changing drug scene with medication assisted treatments that have developed in the last several years.

Scheduled for Dec 2, 2024, 4:00 PMThe session provides an overview of the status and progress made in the EECA region to respond to the changing drug scene w...

02/12/2024

LIVE from EHRC 2024: Global paradigm shift: navigating human rights in drug policy reform (14:00 – 15:30)

This session will provide a comprehensive overview of the shifting global human rights landscape responding to key consequences of the “war on drugs” on the lives of people who use drugs. International and regional experts will overview key documents and on the urgent need for reform that prioritizes health, justice, and dignity for individuals, impacted by punitive drug laws.

The session will explore how repressive drug policy impact enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights and right to health and what civil societies need to change in our strategic engagement with UN human rights mechanisms and to impact European Aid Budgets to create a more humane and equitable framework that aligns with international human rights standards.

This session will provide a comprehensive overview of the shifting global human rights landscape responding to key consequences of the “war on drugs” on the ...

02/12/2024

LIVE from EHRC 2024: European Policy Dialogue (11:30 – 13:00) This session will address the European Drug Policy situation in the EU and the neighboring countries and discuss trends, challenges and advocacy needs.

This session will address the European Drug Policy situation in the EU and the neighboring countries and discuss trends, challenges and advocacy needs.Alexis...