Tag: BOOST

An interesting dialogue on evidence and recommendations on decriminalisation

Posted on by DPNSEE

Together with our project partners C-EHRN, EHRA, EuroNPUD, the Drug Policy Network South East Europe hosted a Webinar on Decriminalisation of drug use and possession for personal use on 4 December 2025. The aim of the webinar was to present and discuss a policy brief developped in scope of the BOOST project.

The webinar was held in English and Russian. 32 participants from various European countries participated – experts, activists, and policymakers. They demonstrated that the true threat to European safety is not the substances themselves, but a punitive system that costs taxpayers billions, fuels organized crime, and destroys lives.

Marios Atzemis, DPNSEE Board member, presented the policy brief ondecriminalization, highlighting its importance for health, dignity, and human rights, and shared personal experiences on the impact of criminalization.

The fiscal and moral bankruptcy of criminalization

The conversation at the webinar began not with ideology, but with hard accounting. For years, governments in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia (CEECA) have claimed they “cannot afford” comprehensive harm reduction services. New data presented by EHRA Executive Director Ganna Dovbakh exposed this as a fiscal lie.

Presenting an updated 2025 comparative analysis of criminalization costs, Dovbakh revealed a staggering gap: in many CEECA countries, imprisoning one person for a drug offense costs the state up to 19 times more than providing that same person with a full package of health and social services (including Opioid Agonist Treatment and harm reduction) in the community.

 

A full regional comparison and country profiles are available following this link>>>.

But the cost is not merely financial; it is human. To expose this reality, Maria Plotko (EHRA) unveiled “Drug Policy and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the CEECA Region” a vital new resource developed by EHRA in partnership with the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (HFHR).

Designed to inform the upcoming UN CESCR General Comment, this report acts as a roadmap for civil society, documenting how punitive policies violate rights far beyond the traditional scope of health. The findings-based on consultations across 19 countries reveal a system of “invisible punishment”:

  • Right to Work: Administrative fines often lead to total wage garnishment, forcing people out of the formal economy, while rigid OAT schedules and workplace testing prevent stable employment.
  • Right to Family: In countries like Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, mandatory testing is required before marriage, and people with a history of drug use are often barred from adopting children.
  • Social Security & Housing: “Drug registries” create a catch-22 where individuals are denied state support or housing eligibility based on their status.

The Netherlands: Fixing the “Back Door” Paradox

John-Peter Kools of the Trimbos Institute provided a critical reality check on the famous “Dutch Model.” He clarified that the Netherlands does not have full de jure decriminalisation, but rather a 50-year-old policy of “tolerance.”

While this separation of markets (coffee shops) successfully decriminalised consumption, it left a dangerous legal gap: the supply chain remained illegal (the “back door” problem). This created a paradox where sale is tolerated, but production is criminal, empowering organized crime.

To solve this, Kools highlighted the Netherlands’ bold new step: The Controlled Cannabis Supply Chain Experiment. Currently rolling out in 10 cities, this pilot legalises the entire chain from production to sale. “Decriminalisation of use is not enough,” Kools noted. “Without regulating the supply, you leave the market to criminal networks.” He emphasized that local innovations – cities leading the way – are often the precursors to necessary national reform.

Croatia’s Drug Decriminalization Experience

Sanja Mikulić, from the Institute for Public Health, presented Croatia’s experience with drug decriminalization, noting that possession forpersonal use is treated as a misdemeanor punishable by fine or treatment, with a significant reduction in criminal cases and less pressure on the justice system. She highlighted that th eapproach has led to more flexible procedures, reduced stigma, and easier rehabilitation, while alsosaving budget funds. The presentation concluded with positive effects of decriminalization, including reduced cases in criminal courts and more focus on serious drug-related crimes.

The warning from Portugal: why decriminalization is no longer enough

For two decades, Portugal has been the global poster child for reform. However, Joana Canêdo, a researcher and activist from Lisbon, delivered a critical warning: stagnation is dangerous.

While the 2001 decriminalization model famously reduced HIV rates and overdoses, Canêdo described the current system as a “prohibitionist variant.” The “Dissuasion Commissions,” once hailed as innovative, have become bureaucratic bottlenecks. Approximately 90% of those referred to them are non-problematic users (mostly of cannabis) who do not need treatment yet are subjected to a coercive administrative process.

Crucially, because the market remains illegal and unregulated, the system is struggling to adapt to new trends like crack cocaine. With recent political shifts in Portugal, aggressive policing and stop-and-search tactics have returned. The lesson for the rest of Europe is clear: Decriminalization without legal regulation and continuous investment in services will eventually hit a wall.

The pragmatic revolution: Czechia

However, the most significant innovation is occurring in Czechia. Dr. Jana Michailidu detailed the country’s revolutionary approach to “Psychomodulatory Substances” (such as Kratom and semi-synthetic cannabinoids).

Faced with a surge in new psychoactive substances, Czech politicians initially tried bans. When those bans failed immediately with new chemical analogues appearing weeks later, the government pivoted. They passed legislation creating a strict regulatory market. These substances are not banned, but neither are they unregulated. They are sold only to adults in licensed stores, with strict controls on dosage and packaging.

“We managed to convince conservative politicians that regulation protects children better than bans” Dr. Michailidu explained. By taking the market out of the shadows, the state can control access – something prohibition has never achieved.

In her closing remarks, Ganna Dovbakh dismantled the metric favored by the new EU Strategy: the “kilogram seized.” She termed this the “Kilogram Fallacy.” Seizures are merely an indicator of police activity, not policy success. “You stop one route, ten more appear. You ban one substance; laboratories produce ten new ones. We are fighting a fire with a leaking hose” she argued.

 

Webinar on decriminalisation

Posted on by DPNSEE

Policy Webinar under the BOOST Project

4 December 2025 | 14:30–16:00 CET

Registration link | https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89055986872

Languages: English and Russian

 

Background and Rationale

Decriminalisation is defined as the removal of criminal sanctions for certain activities related to drug use and possession for personal use. Several actors in the field of drug policy have indicated that a punitive approach is counterproductive to achieving the health and welfare of humankind. There is no evidence that criminalisation of use, possession for personal use, and other related behaviours has positive impacts in terms of reducing both drug demand and supply.

Purpose and Objectives

  • Introduce the BOOST policy brief on decriminalisation to stakeholders across Europe: policymakers, community-led organisations, practitioners, funders
  • Present the evidence and recommendations on what works and where challenges remain when discussing about and adopting decriminalisation
  • Discuss why we need decriminalisation and what arguments can help and how to achieve this goal?
  • Enable dialogue among stakeholders decriminalisation: barriers, enablers, local contexts
  • Mobilise institutions, experts, communities and civil society networks to use the brief as an advocacy tool

Programme

Time Segment
14:30 – 15:37 Opening & overview – Milutin Milošević, DPNSEE Executive Director, Moderator
14:38 – 14:45 The BOOST project: General information and advocacy interventions – Igor Gordon, Program Team Lead, EHRA
14:45 – 14:55 The BOOST policy paper “Decriminalize! drug use and possession for personal use” – Marios Atzemis, DPNSEE Board member
14:55 – 14:05 Presentation of the new documents related to decriminalisation and human rights violations – Ganna Dovbakh, Executive Director and Maria Plotko, Senior Program Officer, EHRA

·      Updated Criminalisation Cost country profiles and regional comparison for CEECA

·      Regional CEECA report on CESCR rights violations of people who use drugs
15:05 – 15:15 Experts from countries implementing decriminalisation – John-Peter Kools, Trimbos institute, The Netherlands
15:15 – 15:22 Experts from countries implementing decriminalisation – Sanja Mikulić, Institute for Public Health, Croatia
15:23 – 15:30 Experts from countries implementing decriminalisation – Joana Canêdo, Portugal
15:30 – 15:38 Experts from countries implementing decriminalisation – Dr. Jana Michailidu, Czechia
15:40 – 15:55 Questions and answers
15:55 – 16:00 Closing – Ganna Dovbakh, EHRA Executive Director and EU Civil Society Forum on Drugs Chairperson

 

Struggle and Hope Beyond the Numbers

Posted on by DPNSEE

On 25 November 2025, the Eurasian Harm Reduction Association (EHRA), together with Correlation – European Harm Reduction Network (C-EHRN) and the Drug Policy Network South East Europe (DPNSEE), hosted a webinar to launch the new regional report “Beyond Numbers: Harm Reduction across South-Eastern Europe” (prepared by Irena Molnar et al) within the framework of the EU-funded BOOST project. The discussion brought together regional experts, practitioners, and community voices to examine the current state of harm reduction across 11 countries in South-Eastern Europe, with a strong focus on the Western Balkans.

Why “Beyond Numbers”

Speakers highlighted that regional data remain uneven, fragmented, and often outdated, making evidence-informed planning and advocacy difficult. The report responds to this gap by combining available quantitative sources with qualitative insights from service providers, peers, and people with lived/living experience, translating “coverage” into the realities of access, continuity, and quality on the ground.

Key findings presented from the report

In her presentation, Irena Molnar outlined a new comparative framework developed for the report, assessing each country across four domains:

  • Service provision (e.g., OAT/OST, NSP, HIV/HCV testing, overdose prevention, prison-based interventions),
  • Policy and financing (legal and funding environment, integration into health systems, community participation),
  • Epidemiology (availability and recency of key indicators), and
  • Data and monitoring (regular reporting, surveillance, transparency).

The findings reveal wide disparities in harm reduction system maturity across the region. While some countries maintain more comprehensive approaches, others face severe service gaps and closures—particularly after the withdrawal of external donor support, with shrinking coverage of needle and syringe programmes (NSP) and outreach in several settings. Across the region, services are frequently concentrated in capitals and larger cities, leaving rural areas and smaller communities with limited or no access. The report also underlines persistent challenges related to stigma and discrimination, weak institutional financing, and insufficient community involvement in policy design.

Country reflections: Slovenia, Bulgaria, North Macedonia

Country representatives echoed the report’s main messages and provided practical reflections:

  • Slovenia noted that strong scores can mask implementation gaps: certain interventions exist “on paper” but remain inconsistently available in practice (e.g., wider access to take-home naloxone; delayed implementation of drug consumption rooms).
  • Bulgaria highlighted progress driven largely by civil society innovation, municipal engagement, and crowdfunding—but warned about fragile sustainability when services depend on a very small number of organisations and lack systematic health-sector funding.
  • North Macedonia described a dramatic reduction in national NSP coverage following donor withdrawal, leaving only limited outreach capacity and uncertainty about continuity—illustrating how funding instability translates directly into increased health risks and reduced access to care.

EU and regional perspectives: future opportunities

On the panel, the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) representative recognised major disparities in harm reduction coverage across Europe, including persistent gaps in take-home naloxone availability in parts of the region. EUDA highlighted its role in strengthening evidence and systems through capacity building, training, and improved monitoring, and announced plans to start mapping harm reduction services in the Western Balkans to better understand gaps and inform future programming.

EHRA emphasised that strong language in strategies must be matched by implementation, and pointed to the EU enlargement process as a potential lever to push for sustainable harm reduction and broader health responses in candidate countries. The discussion also acknowledged the difficult broader context—shrinking civic space and shifting political priorities—while stressing the urgency of coordinated advocacy and community-led monitoring.

The webinar concluded with a shared message: harm reduction in South-Eastern Europe continues to survive largely through civil society resilience and community leadership, but sustainable progress requires political commitment, stable financing, and stronger integration of harm reduction into public health systems.

The report is published at the EHRA webpage here>>>.

The report launch event is available online
https://youtu.be/TbkH6KfqHfI

 

Policy Webinar: Universal Health Coverage for People Who Use Drugs

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On 10 October 2025 (World Mental Health Day), the Eurasian Harm Reduction Association hosted a regional webinar under the EU4Health-funded BOOST project.

The webinar brought together speakers from WHO Europe, regional community networks and frontline services in Czechia, Lithuania and Romania. Participants joined from across Europe and neighbouring regions, including civil society organisations, community leaders, harm reduction professionals, clinicians and policymakers.

UHC that excludes PWUD is not universal

Opening the webinar, Ganna Dovbakh, Executive Director of EHRA, underlined that UHC cannot be called universal if it systematically excludes people who use drugs. She highlighted that in many countries, people who use drugs face a combination of criminalisation, stigma, fragmented services and poverty, which keeps them at the margins of health systems even where UHC frameworks formally exist.

Stela Bivol, from the WHO Regional Office for Europe, provided the global and regional policy context. She stressed that there is “no health without mental health” and no UHC without including people who use drugs and people with mental health and substance use conditions. She outlined WHO guidance on integrating mental health and substance use care into primary care, HIV and hepatitis services, and harm reduction, including the updated mhGAP recommendations and the new WHO clinical guidance on mental health and HIV.

Stela also drew attention to gender and intersectionality: women who use drugs, migrants, sex workers and LGBTIQ+ people often experience combined stigma, violence and rights violations that further reduce their access to care. Emergencies, such as the war in Ukraine, intensify mental health needs while disrupting services, making integration and task-sharing even more critical.

Communities as essential health actors

From the perspective of people who use drugs, Ligia Parodi (EuroNPUD) described UHC as “an empty promise” when people who use drugs are excluded by design through punitive drug policies and institutional discrimination. She stressed that fear of punishment, surveillance and institutional violence keeps people away from health services, and that many deaths and harms are the direct result of political choices.

Ligia highlighted community-led and peer-led initiatives, including BerLUN in Germany, Young Wave in Lithuania, and CASU and the women’s group MUSA in Portugal, which provide navigation, mutual support and advocacy on minimal budgets. These examples show that peers are already acting as health workers and system navigators, yet remain largely invisible and underfunded in UHC plans.

She called for decriminalisation, stable funding for community-led services, and meaningful participation of people who use drugs in decision-making bodies at national and EU levels, as well as in monitoring the quality and accessibility of UHC for key populations.

Integrated models from Czechia, Lithuania and Romania

The webinar showcased practical examples of integrating harm reduction and addiction care within UHC systems.

Radek Jurnikl (SANANIM, Czechia) presented a multidisciplinary outreach and low-threshold programme in Prague that combines social work, psychological support, nursing, psychiatric input and close collaboration with hospitals. The team provides street outreach, harm reduction services and on-site hepatitis C testing and treatment, as well as “hospital outreach” to ensure that patients discharged from hospital are immediately connected to OAT, shelter and follow-up support.

From Lithuania, Giedrius Likatavičius described the work of the Republican Centre for Addictive Disorders, which combines inpatient and outpatient care and runs an OAT programme with a dedicated budget line for people without health insurance. Social workers and nurses are embedded in low-threshold services to link clients to treatment and to HIV and hepatitis services. Lithuania’s model shows how mixed funding and dedicated lines for uninsured people can improve access, although stigma and weak financial incentives still limit decentralisation of OAT to primary care.

Monica Dan (ARAS, Romania) provided a contrasting picture from a more restrictive context. ARAS has offered harm reduction and OAT for decades, but services remain underfunded and not fully free of charge. Recent cuts to health insurance pathways have reduced access to treatment for many people who use drugs. At the same time, civil society must constantly resist new punitive legal initiatives. Monica underlined that without enabling legal frameworks and sustainable financing, even strong community-based services cannot deliver true UHC.

From evidence to advocacy

In the second half of the webinar, EHRA presented the joint BOOST advocacy strategy and the new policy brief: Advancing Universal Health Coverage for People Who Use Drugs in Europe, which translate these experiences into policy demands. The brief calls for harm reduction, OAT and mental health services to be explicitly included in UHC benefit packages; for peer navigators and low-threshold models to be recognised and funded; and for EU institutions to create or adapt funding mechanisms that reach community-led organisations.

Participants discussed the risk of over-medicalisation, the need to address self-medication and trauma, and the mental health needs of outreach workers and activists themselves. There was broad agreement that integrated and community-linked models are technically feasible and cost-effective, but remain politically fragile without decriminalisation, sustainable financing and meaningful community participation.

The webinar forms part of BOOST’s broader regional work on health, harm reduction and human rights. EHRA and partners will now use the policy brief and webinar outcomes to inform advocacy towards EU institutions, national governments and donors, ensuring that people who use drugs are not left behind in Europe’s push towards universal health coverage.

The recording from the webinar is available below

https://youtu.be/TQpJ3t5 KL_s

 

New Policy Brief Out: Where There Is Fruit, There Is Seed: Scaling Up Community Involvement for Integrated, Responsive, and Sustainable Harm Reduction

Posted on by DPNSEE

This policy brief underscores the transformative potential of community-led responses in driving sustainable harm reduction strategies. It highlights the indispensable role of communities in addressing the intersecting challenges of HIV, TB, and viral hepatitis, while aligning with global targets.

By emphasizing actionability, measurable progress, and equity, this brief calls for urgent investment in community leadership to ensure no one is left behind. Scaling up community-led responses is essential to achieving sustainable and equitable health outcomes and policymakers must prioritize investment in these initiatives, ensuring measurable progress and inclusive participation.

The EU4Health BOOST project exemplifies how collective action and investment in community-led initiatives can drive meaningful change and achieve sustainable health outcomes for all. Together, we can build a future where harm reduction strategies are inclusive, responsive, and transformative.

A policy webinar focused on addressing challenges and exploring recommendations to enhance community involvement in harm reduction is scheduled for November 1st, in commemoration of International Drug Users Day (IDUD).

Read the full policy brief here >>>.

 

New policy brief calls for a decriminalisation model whereby all drugs are decriminalised

Posted on by DPNSEE

The criminalisation of use, possession for personal use, and other related behaviours may have negative impact on people who use drugs, local communities, and the whole society, particularly in terms of access to health and social services.

Several actors in the field of drug policy have indicated that a punitive approach is counterproductive to achieving the health and welfare of humankind and many UN agencies have reported the negative impact of criminalisation on people who use drugs and on their surrounding communities.

The decriminalisation of drug use and related activities is a policy option that is widely supported as a core component of a human rights- and health-based approach towards people who use drugs. Decriminalisation refers to the removal of criminal status from a certain behaviour or action. This does not mean that the behaviour is legal, as non-criminal penalties may still be applied. This process aims to remove the stigma against people who use drugs as well as to ensure that they have access to a broad range of support and health services, including prevention, treatment, recovery, and harm reduction.

This publication, prepared by the Drug Policy Network South East Europe, is part of the EU-funded BOOST project, which supports community-led advocacy for inclusive health systems across Europe.

Read the full policy brief here>>>.

 

No Health Without Rights: New Policy Brief Urges Universal Health Coverage for People Who Use Drugs in Europe

Posted on by DPNSEE

In support of the EU Drug Policy Campaign 2025, the Eurasian Harm Reduction Association (EHRA), together with the Correlation – European Harm Reduction Network (C-EHRN), the European Network of People Who Use Drugs (EuroNPUD), and the Drug Policy Network South East Europe (DPNSEE), has released a new policy brief: Advancing Universal Health Coverage for People Who Use Drugs in Europe.

The brief calls for urgent reforms to ensure equitable access to healthcare for one of the region’s most marginalized populations. It outlines how people who use drugs continue to face systemic barriers to essential services—including harm reduction, mental health care, and treatment for infectious diseases—despite longstanding EU commitments to Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the Sustainable Development Goals.

“Universal health coverage must mean everyone – especially those most often left behind,” said Ganna Dovbakh, Executive Director at EHRA. “This paper is a roadmap for the EU and governments to close the gap between policy and practice.”

A policy webinar to discuss the brief’s findings and recommendations is planned for 10 October, marking World Mental Health Day.

The release of the brief aligns with the EU Drug Policy Campaign 2025, which calls on EU institutions to adopt a health- and rights-based approach in the upcoming EU Drug Strategy (2026–2030).

This publication is part of the EU-funded BOOST project, which supports community-led advocacy for inclusive health systems across Europe.

Read the full policy brief here>>>.

 

Policy Paper: “Harm Reduction Works! A call to invest in a European health-based drug policy”

Posted on by DPNSEE

The new policy paper outlines urgent recommendations for the EU and Member States, including

  1. Making drug use an EU health priority;
  2. Ensuring a balanced EU Drug Strategy 2026–2030;
  3. Establishing dedicated EU-level funding for harm reduction; and
  4. Prioritising decriminalisation and responsible regulation.

You can also find our “Communication Package & Advocacy Toolkit” for your use.

This toolkit supports civil society and national stakeholders to engage with policymakers at both the EU and national levels. It includes a Canva template for translating the policy paper; ready-to-use social media content and visuals; customisable email templates for outreach; and advocacy tips and ideas for national action.

Read the full policy paper here>>>.

 

Advocacy in Action

Posted on by Milutin

The Drug Policy Network South East Europe hosted the side event “Advocacy in Action: Advancing Comprehensive Health and Harm Reduction Services” at the 68th UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs, held from 10 to 14 March 2025 in Vienna.

This side event was organized with the support of Czech Republic, Pompidou Group, UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health, Correlation – European Harm Reduction Network, Eurasian Harm Reduction Association, European Network Of People Who Use Drugs, Re Generation, Villa Maraini, ISGlobal, Fondazione LILA Milano, Asociación Bienestar y Desarrollo, Free Clinic, Spolecnost Podane ruce, and Knowmad Institute.

The session illustrated key advocacy strategies and actions which highlight successful community-led interventions and policy reforms that address barriers such as stigma, legislative hurdles, and funding gaps.

The speakers presented the BOOST Project 2023-2025 (Katrin Schiffer, Correlation), Advocacy Strategy for Comprehensive Health and Harm Reduction Services for People Who Use Drugs in Europe (Ganna Dovbakh, EHRA), Scaling up community involvement for an integrated, responsive and sustainable Harm Reduction (Ligia Parodi, EuroNPUD), and Decriminalization and regulation (Marios Atzemis, DPNSEE). A recorded message from Hon. Halldóra Mogensen, parliamentarian from Iceland, was presented.

Discussion after the presentations included contributions from Czech Republic, Juventas, and Pompidou Group.

Call for applications for external evaluation

Posted on by Milutin

The BOOST project is calling for applications for external evaluation of the project. The evaluation is crucial in assessing the progress of BOOST, the effectiveness of the partnerships, and the overall impact on harm reduction services.

With respect to the scope of work, the external evaluator will:

  • Review relevant project documents (e.g., project proposals, work plans, progress reports, internal M&E database).
  • Conduct interviews with key stakeholders, including project partners, project beneficiaries, peers, mini-lighthouses and mentees, among others.
  • Analyse project progress against the planned outcomes, using data collected by the internal M&E team, including baseline, process, output and outcome indicators.
  • Conduct an outcome harvest to identify policy and practice changes, as well as other relevant outcomes attributed to the project’s actions.
  • Provide an evaluation of the process, including:
    • How effectively the activities were implemented.
    • How well the consortium collaborated and communicated.
    • The overall impact of the project activities on harm reduction services.

If you are interested in applying, please take a look at the Terms of Reference (ToR) and submit a brief proposal outlining your approach to the evaluation and the corresponding budget.