Reitox Academy for IPA beneficiaries: New psychoactive substances and the Early-warning system
The Academy was organised in the framework of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) project `Preparation of IPA Beneficiaries for their participation in the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA)`. The project aims to strengthen the capacity of IPA Beneficiaries to establish at national level a drug information system compatible with the EMCDDA standards. In particular, the Academy complemented the project activities aimed to fulfil following specific project objectives:
- To provide support for the establishment or strengthening of a national focal point and for its future integration in the Reitox network
- To involve the IPA Beneficiaries in the specific EMCDDA in the specific capacity building activities.
Since the Early Warning System is one of the core areas of the EMCDDA activities established by Council Decision 2005/387/JHA of 10 May 2005 and calls for the information exchange, risk assessment and control of new psychoactive substances, the Academy aims to prepare the IPA beneficiaries for participation in the EWS network.
The Academy had following objectives:
- to explain the implementation framework of the Councils Decision;
- to introduce the concept of new psychoactive substances, including the risk assessment process;
- to provide knowledge and skills necessary to participate in the EWS network and to strengthen the respective national EWS systems.
A total of 18 representatives from all IPA beneficiary countries attended the meeting.