1. EU Drugs Action Plan: Guidelines and standards

2. EU Action Plan
Objective 8 “ enhance the quality and effectiveness of drug demand reduction activities ..”
Action 19 “ develop an EU consensus on minimum quality standards and benchmarks for prevention, treatment, harm reduction and rehabilitation interventions and services” > 2012
COM proposal on EU consensus

3. To support this …. Study on the Development of an EU Framework for Minimum quality standards and benchmarks in drug demand reduction (EQUS) DG JLS 2010/DPIP/PR/1023

4. The EQUS project: Scope
Inventory of existing (minimum) quality standards and benchmarks at national, EU and – when relevant – international level
Design for a realistic, feasible and scientifically robust framework for EU minimum quality standards
A framework for an effective consultation- and advisory mechanism necessary for consensus building

5. The EQUS project: Tasks
Establish an expert group
Review existing quality standards (and benchmarks)
Propose and help set up a consultation and consensus building mechanism for relevant stakeholders
Develop a design for a framework of quality standards and develop options and suggestions
Discuss this during two expert seminars to be organised in cooperation with COM
Provide working documents and proposal for options

6. The EQUS project: Further aspects
Timeline: May June 2011
Involve selected national stakeholders including NGOs
European “consensus-building” conference planned for June 2011 (Hungarian presidency)

7. The EQUS project: Kick-off 4.5. in Lisbon Steering group
Contractor: Ambros Uchtenhagen, Michael Schaub Research Institute for Public Health and Addiction, affiliated Zurich University
COM/JLS: Maurice Galla, Caroline Hager
COM/SANCO Wilfried Kamphausen
EMCDDA: Roland Simon, Marica Ferri ScC Member

8. The EQUS project: Kick-off 4.5. in Lisbon Some points
EU consensus on minimum quality standards must be concrete, simple, user-friendly and effective
List of recommended minimum quality standards from which the MS could choose according to needs
Cost aspects will also be addressed
Self help programmes included when proven effective

9. The EQUS project: Link with EMCDDA
Help EMCDDA monitoring quality in drug demand reduction.
EMCDDA has adjusted its own work programme in view of the forthcoming project outcomes.
EMCDDA will contribute to the project: inputs from best practice portal, guidelines project etc.
Project findings and conclusions will be uploaded onto best practice portal
presented at the next REITOX meeting on May 2010

10. The EQUS project: Action points
Present project at the next REITOX meeting on May 2010
Scientific Committee: Ask for collaboration with the Steering Group