the UK’s dedicated drug user activists in this.
In short, we hope that EuroNPUD provides a
pathway to draw on national experiences and expertise
among drug user groups, in terms of both identifying
best practice and highlighting current gaps in service.
Through a steering group representing members from
14 countries, we now have a mechanism to consult and
gather intelligence and testimony from
those directly affected by drugs
policy and practice.
Mags Maher is
coordinator of
EuroNPUD
12 |
drinkanddrugsnews
| September 2015
Harm reduction
More harm reduction at:
‘EuroNPUD
reflects input
from 14
countries... whose
advocates and
networks bring a
range of different
experience and
expertise.’
It’s an exciting time for
activism and advocacy
among people who use
drugs, says
Mags Maher
Hands across EuropE
diversity of drug taking and drug-related cultures. The
European HIV epidemic in the 1980s and 1990s saw
people who inject drugs organising together, while the
development of opioid substitution therapy (OST)
services also led to a consumer rights movement. As
networks have matured there has been strong
collaboration between different types of drug users,
leading to national policy-making, advocacy and
lobbying for drug law reform.
EuroNPUD will be actively engaged in the planning
and preparations for the UN General Assembly Special
Session on Drugs (UNGASS) 2016, where the global
community will have the opportunity to consider
decriminalising people who use drugs. Whether this
goal is achieved or not, this drug policy summit
meeting will provide a key milestone in the global
dialogue about drug control regulations.
We will also support the UNAIDS and co-sponsors
push to end the HIV epidemic by 2030, actively
promoting the nine core harm reduction interventions
recommended by WHO, UNAIDS and UNODC in the
technical guide on HIV and injecting drug use across
EU countries.
EuroNPUD is mindful of new drug trends, such as
novel psychoactive substances, and will be supporting
the development and dissemination of learning and
best practice in these areas. We will also promote the
meaningful participation of PWUD in drug policy
discussions, the review and development of drug
treatment systems, and the continuing public health
agendas around HIV, TB, and viral
hepatitis. We are aiming to hold
an international campaign
over the Christmas period
promoting access to
naloxone, and are
hoping to engage
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS
, Europe has been
able to gather together an experienced group of
advocates to form a motivated, innovative and
forward thinking activist group interested in
implementing harm reduction policy and practice
across the EU. The group is called The European
Network of People who Use Drugs (EuroNPUD).
We began in 2010/11 when EuroNPUD received
€20,000 for a network mapping and case study project
from the EU. After a planning meeting at the
International Harm Reduction Conference in Liverpool
in 2010, we began the project, with a consultant
mapping out the range of drug user groups in Europe.
Information from this was presented to the European
Harm Reduction Conference, held in Marseille in 2011.
EuroNPUD reflects input from 14 countries from
across the EU, whose advocates and networks bring a
range of different experience and expertise. Many of
our leading activists and members are well-
established players in the world of drug policy, harm
reduction and community mobilisation among people
who use drugs (PWUD).
Drug-related activities are the core focus of our
organisation and include drug-demand reduction,
supply reduction, international cooperation, informa-
tion, research and evaluation. We have also established
communication systems among drug user groups and
activists in the EU, as this is key to our intelligence
gathering and consultation at grass roots level.
EuroNPUD is already engaged in domestic advocacy
and we have members with experience of representa-
tion at both EU and UN meetings. One of our key
targets will be the development of an EU advocacy
strategy, and our members are involved in many best
practice projects looking at responses to overdose, HIV
and viral hepatitis. We have a clear mandate around
drug law reform.
Western Europe has a tradition of drug user
activism dating back to the 1970s that reflects the
Photo: Nigel Brunsdon
