"Youth Hands in Hands" Project Report

By ILA
Oct 13, 2021  •  6 min read

Illicit drug use and trafficking are worldwide phenomena that threaten health and social stability. Statistics show that around one in three young Europeans has tried an illegal drug, and at least one of our citizens dies every hour from a drug overdose. At the same time, ever-changing patterns in supply and demand call for constant monitoring and dynamic responses.

Substance abuse is problematic because of its prevalence among youth as a social phenomenon. Over the last two decades or so, countries worldwide have seen an alarming rise in the incidence of substance abuse amongst the most productive and crucial sections of their populations. If substance abuse is to be tackled, then it stands to reason that the people who should lead this effort must be youth since they know their own needs better than anyone else. To empower concerned young people who want to do something about drug abuse, the Beyoğlu District National Education Directorate, in collaboration with other partner organisations from all over Europe, started putting together different approaches and snapshots of countries that are involved in this project. The project’s specific objective is to prepare snapshots of the European drug and substance reports based on the latest available information from EU monitoring activities. This report provides the substance abuse problem in different countries at a glance, their national drug strategy and coordination, drug use, prevention, harm reduction and treatment activities in different countries based on European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) statistics.

The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) is the reference point for drugs and drug addiction information in Europe. The EMCDDA exists to provide the EU and its Member States with a factual overview of European drug problems and a solid evidence base to support the drug debate. Today it offers policymakers the data they need for drawing up informed drug laws and strategies. It also helps professionals and practitioners working in the field pinpoint best practices and new research areas.

This project has been prepared thanks to the contribution of youth workers and young people involved in this project. “The Turkish National Agency finances youth Hands in Hands for Combating Drug and Substance Abuse” project under Erasmus+ Programme.

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