Written question on New anti-addiction strategy for 2013-2020

Source: EP register

Subject: Written question on New anti-addiction strategy for 2013-2020

Date published: April 26 2010

Please note that answers to written questions will be answered in the next six weeks.

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2702/10 by Salvatore Iacolino (PPE) and Mario Mauro (PPE) to the Commission

Subject: New anti-addiction strategy for 2013-2020

Having regard to the following:

– the data published in the 2009 report by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA);

– the European Parliament resolution of 25 November 2009 on the Stockholm Programme (P7_TA(2009)0090);

– the fact that the polydrug use of psychoactive substances, particularly among young people, is on the increase and there are currently various forms of addiction that are comparable to that of drugs (e.g. food, smoke, alcohol, gambling, the internet, Facebook, shopping), that are equally harmful to human health and which it is vital to tackle in order to take effective, specific action to prevent and combat the problem;

– the current EU drugs strategy, due to expire in 2012, which needs to be swiftly updated by means of a stronger governance of dependencies;

– the fact that prevention and rehabilitation policy, particularly with regard to drugs, should be coordinated with the risk limitation and damage reduction policy;

– the need for an information circulation system to be set up between the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE), the Commission, Europol, the EMCDDA and the Member States, to be regularly assessed, with a view to making the required action more uniform;

given also that throughout Europe there are now specialist centres which manage polydrug use, with the direct involvement of professionals, consumers and civil society, to the patients' benefit, can the Commission say whether:

1. it would be possible to draw up a new 'Anti-addiction strategy' 2013-2020 which takes a multidisciplinary approach to all dependency-related issues;

2. it will adopt new measures to combat and prevent addiction and to rehabilitate those affected, especially drug users;

3. it will take action to strengthen cooperation with the relevant ministers of the Member States, the regions and civil society in order to gain a better understanding of addiction, with a view to targeting its future measures;

4. it will introduce new prevention and rehabilitation criteria which, over and beyond mere damage reduction policies, consider the well-being of the person and provide comprehensive care?