European Union Drugs Strategy (2013-2020)

17. Drug demand reduction consists of a range of equally important and mutually reinforcing measures, including prevention (environmental, universal, selective and indicated), early detection and intervention, risk and harm reduction, treatment, rehabilitation, social reintegration and recovery.

18. In the field of drug demand reduction, the objective of the EU Drugs Strategy 2013-20 is to contribute to the measurable reduction of the use of illicit drugs, to delay the age of onset, to prevent and reduce problem drug use, drug dependence and drug-related health and social risks and harms through an integrated, multidisciplinary and evidence-based approach, and by promoting and safeguarding coherence between health, social and justice policies. (…)

19.1. Improve the availability, accessibility and coverage of effective and diversified drug demand reduction measures, promote the use and exchange of best practices and develop and implement quality standards in prevention (environmental, universal, selective and indicated), early detection and intervention, risk and harm reduction, treatment, rehabilitation, social reintegration and recovery. (…)

19.4 Invest in and further research on effective risk and harm reduction measures aimed at substantially reducing the number of direct and indirect drug-related deaths and infectious blood-borne diseases, associated with drug use, but not limited to, HIV and viral hepatitis as well as sexually transmittable diseases and tuberculosis. (…)

22.11. In order to prevent crime, avoid recidivism and enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the criminal justice system while ensuring proportionality, the EU shall encourage, where appropriate, the use, monitoring and effective implementation of drug policies and programmes including arrest referral and appropriate alternatives to coercive sanctions (such as education, treatment, rehabilitation, aftercare and social reintegration) for drug-using offenders.

23. Coordination is required within and among EU institutions, Member States, other relevant European bodies and civil society on the one hand, and between the EU, international bodies and third countries on the other hand. (…)

24. (5) Promote and encourage the active and meaningful participation and involvement of civil society, including non-governmental organisations as well as young people, drug users and clients of drug-related services, in the development and implementation of drug policies, at national, EU and international level. Also to ensure the engagement with the EU Civil Society Forum on Drugs at EU and international level.

27. (…) This requires coherence between policies and actions at the EU level, including external cooperation on drug demand reduction, including risk and harm reduction, drug supply reduction, alternative development, the exchange and transfer of knowledge and the involvement of both state and non-state actors. (…)

30.3 Ensure that international cooperation in the field of drugs is integrated within the overall political relations and framework agreements between the EU and its partners, both at national and/or regional level. It should reflect the integrated, balanced and evidence-based EU approach and include: political dialogue, drug coordination, demand reduction (including risk and harm reduction), supply reduction including alternative development and law enforcement, integration of drug policies within the broader development cooperation agenda, information, research, monitoring and evaluation

30.9. When providing financial and technical support to source countries, the EU and Member States shall ensure, in particular, that alternative development programmes:

• are non-conditional, non-discriminating and, if eradication is scheduled, properly sequenced,
• set realistic rural development-related objectives and indicators for success, ensuring ownership among target communities and
• support local development, while considering interactions with factors such as human security, governance, violence, human rights, development and food security.
  • Alternative development
  • Development/SDGs
  • Human rights

30.10. Ensure that the protection of human rights is fully integrated in political dialogues and in the implementation and delivery of relevant programs and projects in the field of drugs.