The particularly great dangers inherent in the uncontrolled trafficking of new psychoactive substances and the need to take initiatives to reduce their supply and demand were highlighted at the 69th Session of the Committee on Addictions (CND) of , the National Coordinator for Dealing with Addictions of Greece, Mr. Athanasios Theoharis.
In particular, during the Plenary, Greece, with the intervention of Mr. Theoharis, emphasized the need for a balanced, documented and human rights-oriented approach to dealing with drugs and all the new challenges that are constantly emerging. The Greek intervention highlighted the growing dangers of synthetic drugs, new psychoactive substances and powerful opioids. The necessity of adopting an approach to effectively deal with the phenomenon that combines demand and supply reduction, giving priority to prevention, treatment, harm reduction, rehabilitation and social reintegration, was particularly underlined.
The National Dependencies Coordinator of Greece emphasized the key role of innovation and scientific data in policy making. In the new era, the importance of Artificial Intelligence, advanced data analysis systems and digital monitoring tools to identify emerging trends, as well as enhancing early risk assessment can be instrumental in addressing drug challenges.
Characteristically, Mr. Theoharis noted that “the transnational nature of drug trafficking requires enhanced international cooperation, including the exchange of information, the creation of interoperable early warning systems, as well as the adoption of common indicators […]. Respect for human rights, access to health services and the participation of civil society must be the defining principles of countries in formulating effective drug policies.”
In the context of the 69th UN Summit, Greece participated in parallel events. Specifically, in the parallel event organized by France with partners, including the European Union, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the World Health Organization, on the topic “Reducing the Supply and Demand of Drugs: Speaking with One Voice and Acting in the Same Direction.” In the parallel event organized by the organization De Regenboog Groep with the support of several European partners on the topic “Drug Consumption Rooms in Practice: Facts, Myths, and Lessons Based on Experience and Evidence.” Greece participated by emphasizing the importance of evidence-based harm reduction policies.
At the special event on “Balancing Human Rights Considerations in Public Health and Safety.” organized by the Pompidou Group of the Council of Europe with the support of several European Countries and International Organizations, including the World Health Organization and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the National Coordinator of Greece Mr. Theoharis participated as a keynote speaker and made an intervention on the “rape pill” stressing the need for policies to be taken and interventions to be made to curb of the phenomenon, the prevention but also the support of the victims.
On the sidelines of the Synod, an event was held on “Global Drug Use Prevention: the CHAMPS Countries Redefining Investment in Prevention.”, which was organized by Austria, with the support of all the countries that have joined the CHAMPS program, including Greece. There, our country analyzed the importance of the intensive prevention program and the steps that have been taken in this context to strengthen prevention in the city of Patras, where its pilot application has begun.
With Greece’s interventions at the 69th Session of the CND, the country’s commitment to international cooperation and a scientific approach to the formulation of drug policies based on human rights was confirmed. Outwardly, Greece actively contributes to the global dialogue on dealing with the drug problem, as its transnational nature and the way illegal trafficking networks operate make it difficult to deal with the phenomenon individually and sporadically. Today, more than ever, cooperation between countries is needed, as well as an equal approach to both supply and demand reduction.
