EuropeanForum

for

UrbanSecurity

Democracy, Cities and Drugs

New Challenges, New SolutionsVienna February 23-25, 2011

Project co-financed by the European Union, within the framework of the Public Health Programme

Conference

• Introduction:aconferenceforaction

• TheDemocracy, Cities & Drugs project

• Howtofindwaystolivetogether?

• Bridgingthegapbetweenpolicymakers,researchersand practitioners

• Amainissueforurbansecurity:drugtraffic,impactsand responses

• Migratoryphenomenaandinterculturalfactorsindrugpolicy andinterventionsinEurope

• E-Healthprogramme

• Whatsolutionsforsmallcities?

• Women’sneedsandvoices

• Localpracticesinurbancoexistence

• Howtovalidateyourwork

• ThePragueDeclarationontheprinciplesofeffectivelocaldrug policies

• TheDemocracy, Cities and Drugs resolution and conclusions

A conference for action

ThelegalframeworkoftheEuropeanUnionprovidesactorsworkingonpoliciesrelatedtodrugsanumberofbenchmarks.Theseofferthebasisforabalancedapproachbetweenpreventionandrepression,andbetweenpublicorder,healthandsocialdevelopment.ThisflexibleframeworkallowsthenationalStatestoadoptcontrastingrangesoflegislations,fromrepressivemeasuresagainstdrugusetotheauthorisationofsmall-scaletrafficandthetestingofremedialpoli-cies.Atthelevelofacity,theheterogeneityisevengreater.Theresponseofthevariousservicesinvolvedishighlyvariable,andthefewstudiesonpoliceandcourtpracticesshowsignificantdifferencesinsuppressiveresponses.Thesameappliestohealthcareorsocialwelfare:thequalityandnumberoftoolsandtheirgeographicallocationcreatesadeepinequalityofresourcesforcitizensacrossEurope.Thisinequalitybreedsdangerousimbalancesforthecontinuityofcer-tain national policies, but more worryingly, it no longer corresponds to the de-greeofEuropeanintegrationthatmobilityhasbroughtaboutinrecentyears.

Asdemocraticallyelectedfigures,regardlessofourreligious,ethicalandphilo-sophicalbeliefsregardingourfellowcitizenswhousedrugs,wehavetoensurethecommongood,publicinterest,anda“betterlivingtogether”.Incompliancewiththelaws,wemustfindamodusvivendithatallowsallcitizenstofeelthatthey are part of their community and their city!

Drug use has become inherent to our lifestyles, our production methods, and ourleisuretime.Thenumberofproductsusedtostimulatetheimagination,amplifyphysicalormentalcapacities,increasefunanddiscovernewpleasuresincreaseseveryday.Theuseoftheseproductsshouldbecontrolled.Eachpersonmanages their health, and their balance within the community, their budget is a measureoftheirconsumption.Itisexcessiveconsumptionthatworriesus:ex-cessiveuse,whereapersonisnolongerabletolimitthemselftoreasonableuse,and further jeopardises their chances of social integration into society, a com-munity,oragroup.Drugabusetriggerstheattentionandreactionofthepublicauthorities.

Publicorder,socialwelfareandhealthareputinjeopardybydrugabuse.Butso-cialpolicyhasneverdependedonpeople’sbeliefs.Inanationalcontext,itisthe

electedofficials’dutytodecideontheorientationofapolicytofightagainstdrugtrafficking,ortorestrictdruguse.But,atalocallevel,itistheelectedofficials’roletoensuretheconditionsthatcontributeto“livingtogether”.Thisiscalledpragmatism.

ThesheerrangeofdifferentsituationsandpoliciesinthecitieshasledEuropeancitiestoexchangelocalpolicies,andforcitieswithsuchapragmaticapproachtohelpcitieslackingit.Itwastheaimofourprogramme‘‘Democracy,citiesanddrugs’’overthepastfouryearsanditisthefocusofourconferenceinVienna.Theconferenceshouldrepresentmorethanameredeclaration,givingustheelementstosetupaEuropeancitiesdrugspolicy,combiningpragmatismandrealism,publicorder,healthandpersonaldevelopment.

MichelMarcusExecutiveDirectorEuropeanForumforUrbanSecurity

The Democracy, Cities & Drugs projectFebruary 23rd

PresentationofresultsandoutputsoftheDC&DIIprojectbythethematicworkinggroupsandnationalplatformmanagers

Susanne Schardt,Consultant,RealitätenBureau,GermanyMartine Lacoste,“Youngvagrants”workinggroup,Vice-PresidentofFédérationAddiction,FranceCinzia Brentari,“Women&drugs”WG,consultant,IrefreaItalyStéphane Leclercq,“SaferNightlife”WG,ABDThomas Legl,“Treatmentchallenge”WG,PresidentofEuro-TCEric Schneider,“Healtheducation”WG,DirectorofAcces13,FranceVanina Hallab,FrenchPlatform,ForumfrançaispourlaSécuritéurbaineViola Barbieri,ItalianPlatform,ForumItalianoperlaSicurezzaUrbanaNuno Oliveira,PortuguesePlatform,Vice-PresidentofMatosinhos’MunicipalCouncil,FórumPortuguêsparaaPrevençãoeSegurançaUrbanaDoina Nita,RomanianPlatform,RomanianNationalDrugAgency,Romania

Theplenarysessionservedasafirstglanceintotheworkandresultsofthedifferentworkinggroups.Allgroupsdevelopedguidelinesonhowtotackle“their”issueandinterestoftheparticipantsintheseishigh.Therewasalsoaproposaltodisseminateasummaryoftheresultsathigherpoliticallevels.

Duringthediscussionallpresentersexpressedaneedformulti-stakeholdercollaborationsthatalsoincludethetargetgroupsthemselves,whosevoicesareseldomheardwhenitcomestodrawinguppolicies.Therewasalsoawideconsensusthatwhatworksinonecontextmaynotworkinanother.Hence,flexibilityandaclearknowledgeoftheactualsituationareneeded.Insteadofready–made solutions, tailor-made responses based on a common assessment andthelatestqualitystandardsshouldbeapplied.Theworkinggroupssoughttoprovidestate-of-the-artmethods,approachesandtoolsbuttheactualimplementationshouldbesubjecttoaspecificandindividualassessmentoftheneeds.

However,afewcriticalpointswerealsomentionedduringthediscussion:

•Nowthatguidelineshavebeendevelopedinthevariousfields,howaretheygoingtobeused?Itwouldbeinterestingtoevaluatehowguidelinesarebeingusedandimplementedandtopublishgoodpractices.

•Itseemsthatinmanyareasrepressionagainstdrugusersisgaininggroundagain.Howcanwerespondtothisdevelopmentandkeepthebalancebetweenthelegitimaterightsofcitizenstosecurityandpublicorderontheonehandandthecivilandhumanrightsofdrugusers-whoarealsocitizens-ontheother?

More info on the Democracy, Cities and Drugs II project

How to find ways to live together ?February 23rd

Michel Marcus,ExecutiveDirectoroftheEuropeanForumforUrbanSecurityMartine Lacoste, Vice-PresidentofFédérationAddiction,FranceHow to live together in societies where people are suffering from addictions? Christian Laval,AssistantManageroftheNationalMonitoringCentreonMentalHealthPractices,DoctorinSociology,CentreMaxWeber,Lyon,FranceFrom uncertainties to creative actions…

Theobjectiveofthissessionwastoaddresstheissueofdrugconsumption,ascontemplatedbyEfusanditspartners,inthewiderperspectiveof“livingtogether”.Bythis,wemeanthepersonalrelationshipsexistingamongtheinhabitantsofacityandasocietywholivemoreorlesshappilyinacommonterritory.Wealsomeantoaddressanotherimportantaspect:therelationbetweencitizensandtheirAuthorities,betheylocal,nationaloreveninternational.

HowcanweaddresstheverycomplexrelationshipexistingbetweenanindividualandTheRule?Howisitunderstoodandaccepted?Wecanalsoaskthequestiontheotherwayround.Whatrulesarenecessaryinordertotocreateapubliclivingenvironmentthatisbestadaptedtoeachofus,andrespectsourindividualdifferencesandaspirations?Inotherwords,howdoweorganiselifeinsociety?

OneofthemainissuesatstakeisthebalancebetweenwhatisactuallydoneandwhatStatespromisetodo.Whatcanwelearnfromcomparingpracticesandspeeches?Asweallknow,theyrarelycoincide.Efusandotherorganisationsmustpromotefieldpracticesandensuretheirvisibility:thisiswithoutadoubtbothachallengeandapermanenttask.

Overthepastyears,coexistencehasbecomeaninterrogation:“Whycan’twelivetogether?”Weliveinasocietywhereapermanenttensionopposescitizensanconsumers.Wehavetogivemeaningtoeducationandbeawarethatinthefieldofdrugs,repressioncanneverreplaceprevention.However,preventive

approachesneedtobeconstantlyadaptedinordertodealefficientlywithnewconsumptionbehaviours,suchasthebingedrinkingphenomenonrecentlyobservedamongyoungpeople.

Itisalsonecessarytogobacktobasics.Hence,preventionstrategiesmustincludeschemesthatallowriskreductionandaccesstohealthcare.Thissaid,weneedtokeepinmindthatsomeofthemodelsweuseinourapproachtodrugaddictsandriskreductionwereputinplacemorethan20yearsago.Wemustexamineiftheyarestillvalidtoday.

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Presentation by Martine Lacoste

Bridging the gap between policy makers, researchers and practitionersFebruary 24th

Luciano Gamberini,PhD.HumanTechnologyLab,Dept.GeneralPsychology,UniversityofPadua,ItalyDoina Nita,ProjectAssistant,RomanianAntiDrugAgency,RomaniaValérie Paternotte,HealthDepartment,FrenchCommunityCommission,Brussels,BelgiumBertrand Fincoeur,provinceofLiège,BelgiumHans Gros,DrugCoordinator,cityofStuttgart,GermanyMatej Košir,UtripInstituteforResearchandDevelopment,SloveniaAdam Zawadzki,DAADFellow,BASICS-Network,DiplomainEducationalSciences

Eventhougheffortsareconstantlymadetofindnewandmoreefficientmethodstoapproachthephenomenonofdrugabuse,stakeholdersoftenseemtohavedifferentinterestsatstake.Forvariousreasons,scientificfindingsareoftenincludedwithgreatdelayinthedailypracticesofsocialworkers.Worseeven,theoutcomeofresearchprojectsandnewsocialpracticesrarelymakeitintheoverallpoliticalagenda,andremainignoredbydecision-makers.

Becauseofthissituationandtheexistinggapbetweenknowledgeandaction,solutionsarescatteredandincoherent,andthereisalackofclearguidelinesastohowtoapproachdrugabuse.Indeed,solutionsoftenseemtobeinspiredmorebythemoralprejudicesofstakeholdersandpoliticalinstitutionsthanbyaddicts’needsorbythecurrentscientificknowledge.Interventionsareimplementedwithoutcoherence,andtreatmentsareoftenunavailable,bestpracticesarenotwidelyshared,andtherearesignificantdifferencesamongthevariousrepression/tolerancesystems.Thesefactorsincreasethefeelingofinsecurityandarecostlyforthetax-payer.Also,theycontributetoagenerallackofconfidenceinpublichealthsystems.

Thedebatesthattookplaceduringthissessionshowedhowresearchersandlocalelectedofficialshavedivergingperceptionsandexpectations,amongothers

becausetheiragendasaredifferent.Politicians,NGOsandresearchershaveadifferentperceptionoftime,andhavetomeetdifferenttypesofdeadlines.Itisworthnotinghoweverthattherearepointsofconvergenceintheagendasofresearchersandfieldworkers.

AdamZawadzkistatedthateventhoughresearchprogrammesareadaptedtoaspecificframeworkandarebasedonfacts,theycanalsoevolveaccordingtobehaviours.Thegap,hesaid,isnotonlyduetoalanguageissuebutalsotodifferentprofessionalandculturalcodesandstandards.

Howdoesthegapcreatedifferentexpectations?AccordingtoBertrandFincoeur,electedofficialsexpectanoperationalapproachwhileresearchersvaluetheirindependenceandaspiretoseetheirresearchrecognisedandimplemented.Theyspeakthesamelanguagebutthevariousstakeholdersdonotseemtounderstandeachotherandresearchworksarenotalwaysread.

MatejKoširbelievesthatresearchersshouldpresentshort,summarisedversionoftheirworktoelectedofficials,writteninaneasilyunderstandablestyle.Theyshould highlight their most interesting conclusions and data, so as to catch theattentionoftheirpoliticalaudienceandgettheirsupport.Participantsintheworkingsessionallagreeonthat,andstressthatmoreoftenthannot,techniciansworkinginlocalgoverningbodiespreparethemselvessuchabstracts,thusbecomingmessengersbetweenelectedofficialsandscientificresearchers.

Isitthatanyscientificapproachisalwaysdifficulttoimplement?Formostofthespeakers,researchmustbeadaptedtosocialrealitywhilekeepingitsobjectiveofindicatingfuturetrends.

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Presentation by Adam Zawadzki

A main issue for urban security: drug traffic, impacts and responses February 24th

Mylène Frappas,DrugCoordinator,cityofMarseilles,FranceMichel Kokoreff,Professor,UniversityofNancyII,FranceThe ‘‘business’’ in poor neighbourhoods, the example of French suburbsMario Lapp,DrugTextFoundation,NetherlandsCannabis: market and politicsNicola Singleton,DirectorofPolicy&Research,UKDrugPolicyCommissionMaking an impact: refocusing drug-related enforcement activity on harmsAnne Coppel, Sociologist, FranceJohnny Connolly,Researcher,ResearchUnitonDrugsandAlcohol,AnBordTaighdeSlainte,IrelandAdam Crawford,ProfessorofCriminologyandCriminalJustice;DirectoroftheCentreforCriminalJusticeStudies,UniversityofLeeds,UnitedKingdom

Conclusions by Johnny Connolly: Thefourpresentationswehaveheardhaveidentifiedsomekeyissuesinrelationtotheorganisationofillicitdrugmarkets,theirimpactatalocallevelandhowwedoandshouldrespondtothem.Firstly,howwerespondtodrug-relatedcrimeandillicitdrugmarketsisclearlyconstrainedalthoughnotcompletelydeterminedbytheinternationallegalframeworkandbyconventions.Wehaveheard how the Netherlands has sought to negotiate the tensions and problems createdbythisframeworkandthemanypublichealthsuccesseswhichhavederivedfromtheirapproach.Wehavealsolearnedthatourresponsestoillicitdrugmarketsneedtobeinformedbyaclearunderstandingastohowtheywork.Therearemanymarketsandnumerousactorsinvolvedperformingdifferentroles.Notallmarketsareequallyharmfulandweneedtodisregardthemanymythsthatsurrounddrugmarkets.Forexample,manyofthoseinvolvedaresmallplayers.Often,dependentdrugusersarepeoplewhoarecaughtupinacycleofdebtandwhoearnverylittlemoneyfromdrugdealing.Also,weneedtobemindfulthatthecriminaljusticeresponsetodrugmarketscanhaveunintendedadverseconsequences,forexamplewherecourtsimposefinesondrugoffenders.Thiscanleadthemintodebtwhichcancontributetotheir

involvementindrugdealing.Weneedalsotobeawarethatillicitdrugmarkets,particularlyatalocallevel,cancauseimmenseharmstoindividualsandcommunities,contributingtolocalfearandvulnerability.Havingsaidthat,andalthoughsomemayadvocatedruglegalisationordecriminalisation as the way forward, until such changes happen, we must developwhatIrefertoaspragmatichumanisticresponses.Thefinalspeakerdevelopedontheimportantthemeofreorientingdruglawenforcementtoaddressharmsthroughmulti-stakeholderpartnershipapproaches.Newapproachestooldchallengesrequireustoembraceimaginativeinitiativesofthisnature.

Conclusions by Anne Coppel:

1)‘‘Thebusinessinpoorneighbourhoodsasasolutionandaproblem:theexampleofpoorsuburbsinFrance’’,byMichelKokoreff.Littleisknownaboutthescopeandorganisationoftraffic,butweknowthatthisparallel,makeshifteconomyisnotlimitedtodrugs.Policeinterventionshavemultipliedinthepastfewyearsastrafficnetworksevolveconstantly,generatingtensionsandfear.‘Gangwars’havemoretodowithpoliticalcommunicationthanwithasoundpolicyagreedamongall.2)‘‘CannabisintheNetherlands,marketandpolitics’’,byMarioLapp.Thecreationofcoffeeshopshasnotsolvedthequestionofthestatusoftheproduct.Inthe90s,organisednetworkstookcontrolofproduction-sincethen,therateofTHChasbeenincreased-,whilethegovernmentintensifieditsfightagainstproduction.Today,thereisadebateabout‘‘cannabistourism’’,andconcernsarebeingvoicedregardingsecurity.Thegovernmentisconsideringprohibiting the sale of cannabis to foreigners, but municipalities are worried because,theysay,productsthatwillnotbesoldincoffeeshopswillbesoldinthestreets.Inthelongrun,itwillbenecessarytochangeinternationalconventionsbutfornow,theymustbeinterpretedsoastoefficientlyprotecthealth.3)‘‘Forariskreductionstrategyappliedtosecurity’’,byNicolaSingleton.Ratherthanfocusingontheamountofdrugsseizedorthenumberofpeoplearrested,wemustfocusonimprovingcitizens’qualityoflife.Sinceitisimpossibletoeliminateillegalmarkets,wemustatleastmakesurewelimitasmuchaspossibletheirharmfuleffect.Thesearetheprinciplesthatmustguide

theinterventionoflawenforcementservices.Prioritiesmustbedefinedinrelationtotheimpactoftrafficoncitizens.Thisisaradicalchangeofperspective,anditrequiresalong-termvision.ItalsorequireswenegociatewiththoseimpliedandreassessthemissionsandpracticesofthePolice.

Thethreeinterventionshavehighlightedthreemajorthemes:

1)Establishingadiagnostic:Eventhoughitisnotalwayspossibletoevaluatethescopeoftraffic,itispossibletoknowwhatconsequencesithasoncitizens.Theeffectandimpactofthevarioustypesoftrafficoncitiesandtheirinhabitantsvary:theycanbemoreorlessviolentandburdensome.2)Theprioritiesofrepressionservicesmustbedefined:Thismustbedonewiththecooperationofallinvolvedpartners,andwiththeobjectiveofimprovingthequalityoflifeofcitizens.Thisinturnrequiresareassessmentofrepressivepractices.Thefactthatvariousservicesandurbanagglomerationswillhavetonegotiatewhattheyconsiderprioritieswillimprovecommunicationamongthem.3)Drugpolicies:Internationalconventionsdefineageneralframework,butthereisacertaindegreeoffreedominthewaytheyareinterpreted.Aharmsreductionapproachrequirestoassesswhattypeofactionsworkbesttoprotecthealth.Asimilarapproachcanbeappliedtosecurity:whatactionscontributetoeffectivelyimprovethesecurityofcitizens?Suchapragmaticapproachcanbeimplementedwithinanytypeoflegislativeframework.Itcanproduceimmediateresults.Itmustalsofosterinnovativeresponses,eveniftheyarenotentirelysatisfactory.Drugtraffickingisaproblemthatisoftenconsideredinsoluble.Butattheendofthesession,itwasclearthatdefiningprioritiesimprovestheefficiencyofpoliceservices,whilerespectingcivicrights.

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Interventions of Adam Crawford and Michel KokoreffPresentation of Mario LappPresentation of Nicola Singleton

Migratory phenomena and intercultural factors in drug policy and interventions in EuropeFebruary 25th

Luciano Gamberini,PhD.HumanTechnologyLab.,Dept.GeneralPsychology,UniversityofPadua,ItalyEberhard Schatz,ProjectCoordinator,CorrelationNetworkJane Fountain,UniversityofCentralLancashire,CentreforEthnicityandHealth,UnitedKingdomA community engagement model, method and resultsKatia Duscherer and Carlos Paulos,CePT,LuxembourgLost in Translation - Risk reduction in the frontier area between Belgium, France, Germany and LuxembourgFranco Corradini,DeputyMayororReggioEmilia,inchargeofsocialcohesionandsafety,andvice-presidentofEfusThe experience of the Emilia-Romagna Region, ItalyRamazan Salman Privat,DirectoroftheEthno-medicalCentreofHannover,GermanyWith migrants for a migrants’ model

JaneFountainpresentedacommunityengagementmodelthatchallengestraditionalresearchamongimmigrantandsociallyexcludedcommunities.Thispresentationdescribedamodelofcommunityengagementthatradicallychallenges traditional research and consultation processes among socially excludedcommunities.Themodelwascreatedtoaddressthesituationwherehealthandsocialservices(includingdrugservices)andresearchersclaimtoconsult,represent,involve,empowerordevelopso-called‘hidden’or‘hardtoreach’populations,butwheretheseclaimsaretoooftenunsubstantiatedandthe‘consultation’issuperficial.Researchersandneedsassessorsaremorelikelytobe‘parachuted’intoacommunity,taketheinformationtheywantfrom the target population and disappear to write a glossy report and academic papers:thetargetpopulationhavenofurtherinvolvementintheprojectandhavenotbenefitted.Thecommunityengagementmodelisameansbywhichthehealthandsocialserviceneedsofsociallyexcludedgroupscanbebettermetbyfairaccess,

experienceandoutcome.Itwasfirstappliedtodruguseamongstmigrantcommunitiesin2000,buthassinceexpandedintootherdomains(suchasmentalhealthproblemsandviolentextremism)andwithothertargetcommunities.Thepresentationwilloutlinesomeofthesuccessesofprojectsthathaveusedthemodel.Ahandoutwillprovidereferencesthatmorefullyexplainthemodelandsomeoftheprojectsthathaveappliedit.The CePT presentation of a project implemented in the party scene in Luxembourg: MAG-Net Party project.ThisprojectwasneededbecausethereisagreatmobilityinthepartysceneinthefrontierzonesbetweenLuxembourg,Belgium,FranceandGermany.Youngsterscrosstheborderstoattenddifferenteventsbutareoftenunfamiliarwiththeregiontheygoto,itslanguageandregulationsconcerninglegal/illegaldrugs.Often,theyarealsounawareofthehealthandemergencyservicesinothercountries.Thisprojectistheresultofacollaborationamongfivedifferentinstitutions.Theyhavetriedtoraiseinterestamongpartygoersandtoworkwithpeers(studentsinterestedinthefield).In the Italian city of Reggio Emilia, the integration policy towards immigrant communitiesisfocusedonsocialandhealthactions.FrancoCorradini,DeputyMayorofReggioEmiliainchargeofsecurity,explainedhowstreetworkersbuiltarelationshipoftrustwithmigrants(Arab-speakingstreetmediatorswhooperateinaneighbourhoodwithanimportantimmigrantpopulation).The MiMi programme in Germanyisamodelofhealthpreventionbuiltforimmigrantcommunities.TheMiMiprogrammerecruits,trainsandsupportsindividualsfromimmigrantcommunitiessotheycanbecomeculturalmediators.Theyactwithintheircommunitytopromotenewwaysofdealingwithhealthandthebody,differentfromtraditionalcustoms.TheobjectiveofthisprogrammeistomaketheGermanhealthsystemmoreaccessibleto immigrants, increase their health literacy, and to empower immigrant communitiesbyfavouringtheirdirectparticipationintheprocess.

Read more…Presentation of the Lost in Translation Project (Katia Duscherer and Carlos Paulos)Abstract of the Lost in Translation Project (Katia Duscherer and Carlos Paulos)Presentation of Jane FountainAbstract of Jane FountainPresentation of Franco Corradini

E-Health ProgrammeFebruary 24th

Stéphane Leclercq,ABD-EnergyControl,EUprojectmanageroftheDC&DIISaferNightlifeEmpowerment&WellbeingImplementationProject,BarcelonaEnergy Control’s E-health and new media outreach toolsPjer Vriens,InterventionDeveloper,DepartmentofInfectiousDiseases,RotterdamPublicHealthService-Correlationnetwork,E-healthcoordinatorE-health and Drugs: an introduction and presentation of a new social intervention tool for online outreachKarl Kociper,Check-it,ViennaStandards for on-line counselling

Internetoffersuniqueopportunitiesfornewmethodsandstrategiestodoeffectiveonlineoutreachwork.Newtoolsarebeingdeveloped,fillingthegapbetweenpreventionandtreatment.Organisationsalsohavetodeveloptheirownaudio,videoandnewmediaproducts,evolvingfromtraditionalwrittendocumentstoe-heathandtheWeb2.0.Moreattentionwillhavetobedevotedoverthenextfewyearsonmobilephonecontentsandapplications.Newcompetenciesarealsorequiredandclassicalcounsellingtechniqueshavetobeadapted.Thee-healthDC&DIIworkshophasshownsomeofthepossibilitiesalreadyavailableforpractitionersatareasonablecost.

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Presentation of Stéphane LeclercqPresentation of Pjer VriensPresentation of Karl Kociper

What solutions for small cities? February 24th

Susanne Schardt,Consultant,RealitätenBureau,GermanyHélène Martineau,DeputyDirectorattheFrenchMonitoringCentreforDrugsandDrugAddictions(OFDT,accordingtotheFrenchacronym),FranceQuantitative presentation of drug use and services in French regions. Overview of disparitiesRoger Ferrer Montero,Coordinator,DRACProjectPresentation of DRAC Project, a drug prevention and harms reduction programme launched by the Council of Osona, SpainBernard Rivaillé,DeputyMayorforPublicSafetyofthecityofLormont,FranceThe French situation and the role of municipalities in the field of prevention Antonio Leone,ServiceforProjectsandCommunication,cityofCormano,ItalyPreventing use of legal and illegal drugs among youths. The experience of Cormano, a small town in a complex environment

Thisworkshopwasfocusedonthefactthatdrugservicesaremainlyavailableinbigcitiesalthoughtherearealsohighriskdrugusersinruralareasandsmalltowns.Budgetaryissuesplayanimportantrolehereasdothepushandpulleffectsoftownslocatedinthevicinityoflargecities,suchasBordeaux(France)andMilan(Italy).AfterpresentationsofthedifferentapproachesandtheinputoftheFrenchMonitoringCentreforDrugsandDrugAddictions(OFDT,accordingtotheFrenchacronym),discussionsshowedthatsmallercitiesmayserveas“laboratoriesforchange”fortwomajorreasons:

1.Insmallercities,policymakersare“closertotheissue”or,asoneparticipantsaid:“Theremaynotbesomanystudiesinsmallcities,butthereisagoodsenseofrealitycombinedwithagoodunderstandingofpossibilities.”2.Bringinglocalactorstogetherandreallyincludingallconcernedgroupsiseasierinsmallcities.Thatspeedsupdecisionprocessesandallowsforveryflexiblesolutions.

However,onepointneedstobestressed:asmuchassmallercitypolicymakers

are closer to the problems, this is true the other round too as they are under closerscrutinyfromlocalcitizens.Hence,problematicsituationsrequiretobetackledfast,andresponsesareoftenratherbasedonpublicopinionthanrealfactsandfigures.

Anotherimportantpointhighlightedduringthedebateisthatsmallcitiesmustnot only form alliances within their community but also with other smaller communitiesaround.Thiswouldallowforamoreefficientuseofpublicmoney,andensureacommonstrategyinhandlingregionalproblems.

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Presentation of Hélène MartineauPresentation of Roger FerrerPresentation of Antonio Leone

Women’s needs and voices February 24th

Cinzia Brentari,Coordinatorofthe“Womenanddrugs”WorkingGroup,Consultant,IrefreaItalyRosario Mendes,IrefreaPortugalGender inequality: five reasons to drink differentlyPye Jakobsson,InternationalSpokesperson,RoseAlliance,SwedenChallenging the concept of “Hard to reach” communities

CinziaBrentariisthecoordinatorofthe“Women’sandDrugs”workinggroupoftheDC&DIIproject.Thegroupdrewupasetofguidelinesontheproblemsthatwomenfacewhenusingdrugs,andintheirlivesingeneral.

Themethodologyconsistedinworkingwithdifferentservicesinthecitiesandaskingthefollowingquestions:-Doyouhaveservicesspecificallyaimedatwomendrugusers?-Doyoucollectdata?-Doyouhavespecificguidelinesongenderissues?

Theworkinggroupthenanalysedtheavailabledataandresultsofresearch,guidelinesandprotocols.TheirsetofguidelinesisavailableontheDC&Dwebsite.

Data:-morementhanwomenusedrugs;-violenceamongdrugusersismorefrequentagainstwomen;-morewomenthanmenfaceeconomicdifficulties;-womenaremorevulnerablethanmentoinfections.

Thesessionofferedaninterestingconclusiontothreeyearsofwork.ItallowedtoanalysenewtrendsindrugconsumptionamongwomeninEurope,suchastheemergingphenomenonofbingedrinkingamongyounggirls(asisthecasealsoamongyoungmen).

Participantsalsostressedtheneedtochallengetheprejudiceaccordingtowhichwomenare“hardtoreach”,andtoadoptnewwaysofapproachingsubstanceusers,firstofallbytakingintoaccounttheirspecificexperienceandsituation.

Discussionswiththefloorincludedtheneedtogobeyondtheconceptofspecialservicesforwomenandratherfocusallservicesrelatedtodrugsandalcoholabuseonagenderbasis.

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Presentation of Rosario Mendes

Local practices in urban coexistenceFebruary 24th

Vanina Hallab,CoordinatoroftheDC&DFrenchPlatform,FrenchForumforUrbanSecurity,FranceCarla Napolano, ProjectManager,EuropeanForumforUrbanSecurityThomas Kattau,AdministratorofthePompidouGroup,CouncilofEuropePatricia Ros,HeadoftheDrugUnitoftheCityofTarragona,SpainPlatform «Nits Q» in Tarragona. Quality Nights ProjectPhilippe Lagomanzini, Director of the Drogues et Société association, FranceDrug use: prevention of social exclusion through interventions based on territoriesManon Reynders and Sophie Neuforge,DrugsMonitoringCentreofthecityofLiège,BelgiumExperimental project of heroin assisted treatment. Integration into the city: the stakesDominique Meunier,ProjectManager,FédérationAddiction,ParisKarlheinz Cerny,Referentprojectexpert,memberoftheboardofdirectorsofFédérationAddiction,managerattheEspaceduPossible-ADNSEA,Lille.Young vagrants, in European cities -use of drugs, alcohol and other psychoactive substancesOlivier Peyroux,Sociologist,Horslarue,FranceAddiction behaviours among migrant Roma communitiesEberhard Schatz,ProjectCoordinatoroftheCorrelationNetwork,Amsterdam,NetherlandsHow to support the inclusion of marginalised people into the local drug policies?

Thefactthatoursocietiesincludeanincreasinglydiversenumberofethnicgroups,particularlyfollowingtheexpansionoftheSchengenzoneandtheincreasingmobilityinEurope,meansthatfieldworkersneedtoacquirenewskillsinordertograspimmigrants’languagesandsocialhabits.Indeed,itisoftendifficulttoreachimmigrantsorresidentswithadifferentethnicbackground(thantherestofthepopulation)whentheyaresociallyexcludedandhaveproblemsofsubstanceabuse.Stafflackskillsandcapacitytoreachout.Also,peoplefromthesegroupsareoftenreluctanttoaskforandreceivehelp, including in emergency situations, because of a deeply-rooted fear of

anykindofstateorofficialorganisation.Thegeneraldriveamonghealthandotherdrugpreventionprofessionalsistorecruitmorestaffwithdifferentethnicorigin.Also,practitionersregularlycallformoreprofessionalexchangesamongcountriesandfordirectworkingcontactsamongfrontlineprofessionalsthroughoutEurope.

Alltheprofessionalsandexpertsconsultedforthisresearchconfirmthatthedifficultytoreachtargetgroupswithdifferentethnicandculturalbackgroundsremainsamajorchallenge.Amongthekeyissuesare:differentmentalityandsocialconventions,distinctcultureandhierarchy,languageandintegrationproblems.Oftenthehealthstatusofthesecommunitiesispoor,andtheirhealthproblemsremainuntreatedbecausetheyeitherhavenoadequateaccesstoservicesoraresuspiciousofinstitutions.Inmanycultures,peoplekeeptheirproblemsinthefamilyanddonotrequestoutsidecontactandhelp.Duetostrongfamilytiesandsuspicionofpublicservices,veryfewcontemplateresidentialcare.

Thissaid,anumberofprojectshaveemergedinthecontextoftheDemocracy,CitiesandDrugsprojectthatappeartosuccessfullyreachvulnerablegroups,includingthosefromdifferentethnicandhighlymarginalisedbackgrounds.Fromapolicyperspective,theseprojectsareallbasedonapublichealthapproach,withanoverallobjectivethatisrelevantnotonlytothetargetedgroupsbutalsotosocietyatlarge.Thisapproachismuchmoreeffectivethanothersbasedonideologyandsupportedonlybyafractionofsociety.Intermsofimplementationandmanagement,alltheseprojectsadoptahands-onandclient-centredapproach.Theyarenotsomuchfocusedoninstitutionalintereststhanonpragmaticsolutionsansweringtocustomers’needs.Thisisaguaranteeofsuccessandofasounduseofresources.Theyallshareaswelltheoverallobjectiveofsocialinclusionandintegration.

Targetgroups,beneficiariesandactivitiesvarygreatly.Someaddressriskybehaviouramongmainstreamyouthsengagedinyouthcultureactivitiessuchasnight-clubbingandotherleisure.Othersprovidesupporttomarginalisedandexcludedgroupsandofferservicesandassistanceaimedatintegration.

Theworkingmethodsadoptedbytheseprojectsalsovarygreatly.Somearemoretraditionallyservice-oriented(client/providerapproach),whileothersarebasedonpeerwork.Allofthem,however,sharetheobjectiveofinvolvingusersandconsultingtheirtarget-groupsaboutthedefinitionandimplementationofactivities.

Anothercommoncharacteristicisnetworkingwithdifferentstakeholdersinthefieldandalsoatadistancethroughinternet,trainingsessionsandmeetingswithcolleaguesofotherregionsandcountries.

Oneofthemostinterestingachievementsoftheseprojectsisthattheyallhavebeenabletosuccessfullycooperatewiththerelevantstakeholdersandtosecurethecommitmentandsupportofpoliticalofficials.Thisisnotaneasytask,andourexperienceshowsthatmanyprojectsfailbecausetheylackthatkindofsupport.Thestrengthofthesepartnerships,whicharekeytothesustainabilityoftheseprojects,needstobeconfirmedinthelongrun.Equallyinterestingwill be to see if political leaders will learn from these projects, and ensure their dissemination.

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Abstract of M. Reynders and S. Neuforge

How to validate your work February 24th

Steps to evaluate a local drug policy

Fernando Mendes,ResponsibleoftheDemocracy,Cities&Drugsprojectevaluation,IrefreaPortugalMatej Košir,UtripInstituteforResearchandDevelopment,Slovenia

Thecomplexityofresponsestotheproblemofaddictionisalsoreflectedinourcitiesandintheoptionsweneedtocontemplate.Howeveritispossibletodevelopstrategiestoimprovetheevaluationofourinterventions.Inthissensealocalevaluationprogrammemustprovide:•asystematicreviewandconstantimprovementofenvironmentalhealthservicesprogrammes(drugdemandreductionprogrammes-prevention,harmsreductionandtreatment);•theuseofevaluationinstrumentsthatalsoneedtoberegularlyreviewed;•coreprogrammeconsistency(maintainalocalnetworkassiociatingJustice,healthservicesandsocialservices);•reinforcedpublichealthobjectives;•publichealthoutcomesthatareupheldandconstantlyimproved;•sharingthebestaspectsoftheprogramme;•acommunicationpolicy;•acarefulplanningandallocationofresources;•thesearchforbestpractices.

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Powerpoint presentation of this workshop

Presentation of the the Prague Declaration on the principles of effective local drug policies February 25th

Pavel Bém,formerMayorofPragueKasia Malinowska-Sempruch,Director,GlobalDrugPolicyProgram,OSITomas Zabransky,HeadforResearchandDevelopment,CentreforAddictology,CzechRepublicChristine Köhler Azara,BerlinDrugCommissioner,Germany

ThePraguedeclarationwaspresentedbyPavelBem,formerMayorofPrague.

ThePragueDeclarationisastatementofrepresentativesofmunicipalgovernments,decisionmakersresponsibleforlocalandmunicipaldrugpolicies,workersinthefieldofdrugprevention,regulation,treatment,andharmsreduction,andresearchersinthefieldofdrugs.ItwaspreparedinPragueforthe Urban Drug Policies in the Globalised World conference(September30th–October 2nd, 2010), and is open to signature by anyone interested in urban, municipalandlocaldrugpolicyatwww.praguedeclaration.com.

MrBemspokealsoaboutthelocaldrugpolicyimplementedinthecityofPrague.Hepresentedthevariousbenefitsofthistypeofaction,includingalowproportionof‘‘hidden’’drugaddictsamongthepopulation,alowmortalityrate,alowprevalenceofHIVamongproblematicdrugusers,manageablemorbidityrates,manageabledynamics,acceptableeconomicandsocialcosts.‘‘Theconstantandimprovinginformationflowsbetweenthelocal,national,andinternationallevelsofdrugpoliciesthroughacommonvoiceisoneofthechallengesofthefuture,’’hesaid.

KasiaSempruchoftheOpenSocietyInstitute(OSI)highlightedthesuccessofnationalharmsreductionpoliciesundertakeninPortugalandSwitzerland.‘‘WeconsiderthatEfusisaninterestingnetworkbecauseittakespoliciesoutoftheirlocalandnationalcontextandsharesthemthroughoutitsnetwork.Thelocallevelisparticularlyinterestingbecausethisiswherewecanclearlyunderstandwhatworksandwhatnot,’’shesaid.

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Presentation of P. Bem on the Prague DeclarationPresentation of P. Bem on the case of the City of PraguePresentation of C. Köhler Azara

Democracy, Cities and Drugs resolution and conclusions

Drugtraffickingandconsumptionarephenomenonsthataredeeplypartofourcities’publicspaces.Aselectedrepresentativesinchargeofthecommongood,wehavetofacethisreality,andmakesurewelimititsharmfuleffectonpeople,familiesandthegeneralpublic.

Thus,anyapproachhastobebasednotonideologybutonrealismandtheanalysisoffacts,morespecificallyontheresultsofthescientificassessmentrequestedbytheEuropeanCommission[1].

Acertainconsensusalreadyexistsinthismatter.WecanseeitintheSaragossaManifesto(2006),theViennaDeclaration(2010),andthePragueDeclaration(2010)whichstatesomeprinciplesandrecommendationsthatwewouldliketorecallhere.

Theissuesofsecurityandpublichealthshouldnotbeseenastwoopposednotions,butratherascomplementaryandinterdependent.Wemustmakesurethatthebasichumanrightsofpeoplesufferingfromseveredistressduetodrugconsumptionareguaranteed.Indeed,thesedistresseshavetobeconsideredaboveallasdiseases.

Ithasbecomeclearthatmostlyrepressivepoliciesagainstusershaveproventobeinefficient.Theyonlyintensifythestigmatisationofdrugusers,andputthemandtheircommunitymoreatrisk.Theprioritiesofsuchpoliciesarethefightagainstdrugtrafficking,inparticularataninternationallevel,andtheorganisationofthemarket.Butthedrugusersarenotpartofit.

Itisknownthatlocalpolicieshavethemostdirecteffectonanysituationlinkedtodrugs.Also,localauthoritiesplayakey-roleingatheringinformationandimplementinginnovativesolutions.Itistheresponsibilityoflocalauthoritiestopromotefavourableconditionsforcoexistenceamongpeople,allowingeachindividualtoasserthim/herselfasacitizen,andcontributetobuildingsocialcohesion.Thisalsoconcernsdrugusers.

Localpoliciesmustbepartofaprecisenationalandinternationalframework,

whileadaptedtoeachspecificlocalsituation.Localauthoritiesmusthavethemeansandfreedomtoexperimentinnovativeresponses.Publicfinancingmustallowagoodbalancebetweentheneedtoreducetheoffer,thedemandandthedamages.

Internationalconventionsmustalsotakeintoaccountthisnecessarybalance.Theymustbere-assessedinlightofthepreviouslymentionedscientificevaluationrequestedbytheEuropeanCommission,giventheirfailurebothintermsofpublicsecurityandpublichealth.Realismandpragmatismmustmatchindividuals’fundamentalrightsandfreedom.

Inreferencetotheabove-mentionedtextsandfollowingtheDemocracy,CitiesandDrugsproject,EuropeancitiesmembersoftheEuropeanForumforUrbanSecurityandtheprojectpartnershaveagreedonthefollowingprinciples:

1.Partnershipsandcooperationmustbereinforced,onceandagain,sothateveryone(includingdrugusers)maycontributetoacommonapproach;

2.Fosteringaglobaldebateonacontrolleddecriminalisationofthesehealthissues that are drug consumption and in particular the addiction to psychotropic substances;

3.Repressivemeansmustbetargetedmoreclearlytowardsmarketscontrol,especiallyinternationalones,whichmeansrecognisingdrugtrafficking,andtheundergroundeconomylinkedtoit,asoneofthemostdestructivefactorsagainstsocialcohesionandcoexistenceinourcities;

4.Cooperationanddialoguebetweenthescientific,politicalandtechnicalarenasmustbeconstantlyfavouredandstrengthened;

5.Thetaskoflocalofficialswhenitcomestoadaptingtreatmentsofferedtotheactualneedsofaffectedcitizensmustbefacilitated;

6.Anypreventionortherapeuticapproachmustfocusmorespecificallyonwomen.Vulnerablegroupsmustalsobenefitfromspecificandadaptedpolicies;

7.Therapeuticmonitoringhastobeconsideredasaneffectivealternativetoimprisonment.Butithastobeseenthatadaptedtreatmentsalsohavetobeofferedtotheinmates.

8.Anynationalorinternationalpolicymusttakeintoaccountthefactthatdrugtraffickingandconsumptiondoesnotonlyaffectlargecitiesbutalsosmallandmediumonesthat,throughoutEurope,arecurrentlystrugglingtotackletheseissues,andareprejudicedbyflagrantinequalitiesintermsoffinancialmeansandhealthcapacities.

[1] http://zaragoza2006.fesu.org/[2] http://www.viennadeclaration.com/[3] http://www.praguedeclaration.com/[4] European Commission report: the world drugs problem, ten years on, March 2009

___________________________________________________________[1] Reuter, Peter (RAND) and Trautmann, Franz (Trimbos Institute) (Editors) : A report on Global Illicit Drugs Markets 1998- 200, European Communities, 2009

In partnership with:

Sponsored by:

Project co-financed by the European Union, within the framework of the Public Health Programme

And:

Global Drug Policy Program