Glossary Language: English

The Eurasian Harm Reduction Association (EHRA) is a regional network with a mission to promote humane, evidence-based harm reduction approaches to drug use. It aims to improve health and protect human rights at the individual, community, and societal levels. EHRA’s geographical focus consists of six sub-regions: the Baltics, Central Europe, South-Eastern Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States, Caucasus and Central Asia.

The International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC) is a global network of civil society organisations that come together to promote objective and open debate on drug policy issues. Its vision is that national and international drug policies are grounded in the principles of human rights and security, social inclusion, public health, development and civil society engagement.

The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) is the independent and quasi-judicial monitoring body for the implementation of the United Nations international drug control conventions. It was established in 1968 in accordance with the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961. INCB has 13 members, each elected by the Economic and Social Council for a period of five years.

War on drugs is a series of actions tending toward a prohibition of illegal drug trade. Goal is to end the import, manufacture, sale and use of illegal drugs.

In the context of drug prevention, activities that are targeted at groups with an overall average risk of drug use (adapted from Springer and Phillips, 2007). Often, such interventions will address the entire population within a setting (e.g. school, community, society). Universal prevention typically aims to prevent or delay the onset of drug use. Individuals or groups with an above-average risk of drug use are not singled out.

The treatment demand indicator (TDI) is one of five key epidemiological indicators providing objective, reliable and comparable information at a European level concerning drugs, drug addiction and their consequences.

Any agency that provides treatment to people with drug problems. Treatment centres can be based within structures that are medical or non-medical, governmental or non-governmental, public or private, specialised or non-specialised. They include inpatient detoxification units, outpatient clinics, drug substitution programmes (maintenance or shorter-term), therapeutic communities, counselling and advice centres, street agencies, crisis centres, drug-treatment programmes in prisons and special services for drug users within general health or social-care facilities.

Medications that slow brain activity. That makes them useful for reducing sleep problems or anxiety. Benzodiazepines, barbiturates and other types of central nervous system depressants are examples for tranquilizers.

Reduced response of an organism and increased capacity to support the effects of a substance after a more or less lengthy period of use. Tolerance levels are extremely variable between substances. Tolerance to cannabis is believed to be lower than for most other drugs, including tobacco and alcohol.

Synthetic cannabinoids are sold as “legal” and “safe” replacements for cannabis and may be advertised as “exotic incense blends” and “not for human consumption”, in order to circumvent consumer protection and medicine laws. They may affect the brain much more powerful than marijuana and their actual effects can be life-threatening.