This week the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) has released the European Prevention Curriculum - a handbook designed for decision, opinion and policy makers in science-based prevention of substance use. The aim of the EUPC initiative is to implement a standardised prevention training curriculum in Europe and improve the overall effectiveness of prevention.

Adapted from the Universal Prevention Curriculum by the EU-funded UPC-Adapt group, the handbook is based on the International Standards on Drug Use Prevention and the European Drug Prevention Quality...

Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) was developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) to assist nations in reducing the demand and supply of tobacco. In 2020, 182 nations joined the FCTC, approving to implement the recommended tobacco control measures.

By August 2006, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates (UAE) ratified the WHO FCTC. Given the unique political, cultural, and religious context – and known tobacco industry efforts to influence tobacco use- in these nations, a careful examination...

The Global Synthetic Drugs Assessment 2020 provides an analysis of the global synthetic drugs market.

• The first part of this report provides options for responses to counter the synthetic drug problem.
• The second part presents a global thematic analysis of the key trends and emerging developments of the synthetic drugs market as well as the recent trends in the manufacture of synthetic drugs, including the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The third part provides the key findings of the synthetic drug situation in the different regions of the world.

Global Synthetic Drugs Assessment

There is extensive work being carried in Africa out by the DDR partners.

This map highlights what kind of work is taking place in the different areas of the continent.

Tobacco use is the primary risk factor common to the four main groups of non-communicable diseases— cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic lung disease and diabetes (NCD Alliance).

Figures gathered from the Egypt Global Adult Tobacco Survey (2009) show that Egypt is listed as one of the top ten per capita consumers of tobacco. 

Despite being particularly vulnerable to damage from tobacco use, there is a particularly high prevalence of smoking amongst older adults in Egypt.

The aim of this study was to investigate how many older adults in Egypt use tobacco in its different forms.

This...

On entering the Decade of Action 2030, UNODC recognizes the need to increase efforts in Africa. UNODC proposes adopting a ‘business unusual’ approach in order to support Africa towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and priority goals of the African Union Agenda 2063. UNODC pledges to work with Africa to better address a significant number of issues critical for Africa’s stability, safety, security and health and to leave no one behind.

As communicated by Executive Director, Ms. Ghada Waly, during Africa Day in May 2020, UNODC is developing its Strategic Vision for Africa 2020...

Following the overthrow of Muammar Gadhafi in 2011, Libya has faced security and economic challenges. Drug trafficking and consumption have also increased significantly over the past years.  This report by the U.S. Institute of Peace documents drug trafficking, drug use, treatment efforts, and Libya's conflict dynamics.