Drug early warning systems: Resilience for the future – Lisbon Addiction side event

The new psychoactive substances (NPS) market is characterised by complexity and increased integration with the market for established controlled drugs. The market continues to grow, is globalised, resilient, highly dynamic, and rapidly adapts to attempts to disrupt it. Because of this, NPS continue to pose a major threat to public health.

Early warning systems are essential to exchange information, as well as detect, assess, alert, and respond to emerging threats in a timely and effective way in order to prevent or reduce the public health and social harms caused by NPS. There is a need to build, maintain, and strengthen drug early warning systems that support preparedness and responses to NPS and provide resilience for the future.

 The purpose of this meeting is to discuss and reflect on:

• The current situation and recent changes in the NPS market,
• the challenges faced, and what the future may look like,
• the accomplishments, experiences gained, and lessons learnt,
• how drug early warning systems can be better prepared to ensure effective responses to these threats,

Participation by invitation only.