This week, the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) is organising the second annual meeting of the European Drug Alert System (EDAS) to review progress, exchange experiences and set priorities for the year ahead. Foreseen under the EUDA regulation, EDAS is a new operational service designed to strengthen preparedness and response to serious drug-related risks across Europe.
EDAS allows for the rapid exchange of information and the dissemination of risk communications, that may include options for response. While complementing the EU Early Warning System (EWS) on new psychoactive substances (NPS), EDAS is broader in scope, covering all drugs and serious health, social, safety and security risks associated with the drug phenomenon that are of European relevance.
The operation of EDAS is supported by a network composed of: EUDA experts, the Reitox national focal points, relevant national competent authorities in the EU Member States, Türkiye and Norway and the European Commission. The mechanism complements national alert systems.
Addressing the meeting, EUDA Executive Director, Alexis Goosdeel, outlined the importance of the system in improving response capacity, reaching professionals in the field and ultimately saving lives.
This year’s meeting includes a session on social, safety and security risks, focusing on violence prevention among young people, drug-related intimidation and the links between illicit firearms and European drug markets.
Given the growing concerns around synthetic opioids, participants will also take part in scenario workshops and focused discussions on preparedness planning at regional, national and city levels. These exercises will provide a practical opportunity to review procedures, identify strengths and highlight areas for improvement in real-world preparedness.
The meeting will conclude with a discussion on further developing the system and strengthening cooperation among the EDAS network.
With this new mechanism, the EUDA reinforces its commitment to supporting EU Member States and partners in detecting, assessing and responding swiftly to drug related risks, contributing to a safer and more resilient Europe.
