Addressing drug-related challenges in prisons is a key component of wider public health and security efforts. As the drug use experience of the prison population (especially before imprisonment), often reflects wider societal trends, responses in these environments play an important role in identifying drug trends and addressing potential drug-related issues.
This week, the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) brought together experts in Lisbon for a two-day meeting ‘Prison and drugs: increasing the preparedness of prisons to address the drug phenomenon’. The event (17–18 March) took place under the EUDA’s one-year presidency of the EU Justice and Home Affairs Agencies’ Network (JHAAN) and reflected the presidency theme ‘One Safety — building preparedness and resilient communities’.
Participants included representatives of the European Group on Prison and Drugs, the Reitox national focal points, prison administrations, public health and drug services, as well as national and international organisations. Together they explored how to strengthen preparedness in prisons for present and future drug-related issues.
Discussions ranged from improving monitoring and data collection, to addressing drug-related health issues, such as comorbidities of mental health and substance use disorders and drug-related infectious diseases. Also addressed was understanding how drug markets operate in detention facilities and connect to those outside.
A key focus was on implementing effective, evidence-based interventions, ensuring continuity of care, reducing harms and supporting rehabilitation. The role of training and capacity-building was also emphasised, with talks focusing on how to strengthen cooperation and knowledge-sharing between countries and organisations in order to promote harmonised European training on prison and drugs.
The meeting underscored the importance of coordinated, cross-sector responses to drug-related challenges in prison settings. By bringing together health, security and policy perspectives, it contributed to a more integrated approach to preparedness, supporting earlier identification of risks and more effective responses across Europe.
