EMCDDA news

The speed with which the Internet is transforming drug markets poses a major challenge to law enforcement, public health, research and monitoring agencies. This is according to The internet and drug markets, the latest ‘trendspotter’ study from the EU drugs agency (EMCDDA) released today. The study aims to raise understanding of the current online supply of drugs and to map the range of Internet markets in existence.

The speed with which the Internet is transforming drug markets poses a major challenge to law enforcement, public health, research and monitoring agencies. This study aims to raise understanding of the current online supply of drugs and to map the range of Internet markets in existence.

Can naloxone provided in the community help reduce the thousands of drug-induced deaths recorded in Europe every year? This is the question explored by the EU drugs agency (EMCDDA) in a new paper released today: Preventing fatal overdoses: a systematic review of the effectiveness of take-home naloxone.

Drug overdose is one of the major causes of death among young people in Europe. This paper considers how naloxone — an effective antidote that can reverse opioid intoxication — combined with training in first aid for coping with an overdose for people who are not health professionals can help save lives. The evidence from the 21 studies analysed shows that educational and training interventions for peers and family members, complemented by take-home naloxone, may help decrease overdose-related mortality.

The University Institute of Lisbon (ISCTE-IUL) and the EU drugs agency (EMCDDA) will be joining forces again this summer to hold the fourth European drugs summer school (EDSS) on 'Illicit drugs in Europe: demand, supply and public policies'. Registration opens today for the two-week course, which will take place in the Portuguese capital from 29 June to 10 July. The initiative is also supported by the US National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).