THE 1ST ADRIATIC DRUG ADDICTION CONFERENCE AND THE 1ST CENTRAL AND SOUTH EASTERN EUROPEAN SYMPOSIUM ON ADDICTIVE BEHAVIOURS CONCLUSIONS - IZVJEŠCE - ZAKLJUCCI CONCLUSIONS OF THE 1ST ADRIATIC DRUG ADDICTION CONFERENCE ON TREATMENT, HARM REDUCTION AND REHABILITATION, HELD IN POREC, CROATIA, from MAY 21 to 22, 2003 AND THE 1ST CENTRAL AND SOUTH EASTERN EUROPEAN SYMPOSIUM ON ADDICTIVE BEHAVIOURS: SUBSTITUTION TREATMENT, REGIONAL NETWORKING, HELD IN PIRAN, SLOVENIA, on MAY 23, 2003 1.The number of participants, papers presented and discussions that have taken place, confirm the conference has been a great success. 2.The issues in all countries of the region are similar. The greatest issues are the addiction to tobacco and alcohol, whilst out of illegal drugs the greatest problem is heroin. The use of synthetic drugs is rising. 3.Great differences are present in the organisation of medical treatment systems and assistance within the countries of the region. 4.It has been estimated that the cooperation and assistance delivered by experts from countries of the region are of vital importance when it comes to quality upgrading of addiction treatment and rehabilitation. In this line the following projects and operations have been agreed: -The conference should by tradition take place every second year. -A coordination committee will be established, formed by representatives of all countries in order to prepare the necessary projects and operations. -Organised will be training courses and workshops for experts directly working with addicts, especially when it comes to implementing substitute therapy. -Encourage addiction epidemiology research and work on leveling epidemiology parameters. -Create databases on all experts and institutions and improve communication. Form own web site pages. -Initiate magazine editions. The most rational option would be to transform the magazine entitled “Odvisnosti” (Addiction), issued by The Sound of Reflection Foundation from Ljubljana, Slovenia into a regional magazine by translating the magazine into several languages. -Encourage and initiate harm reduction programs. -All countries should print handbooks on medical treatment, especially handbooks on methadone therapy. -Prepare a handbook for drug policy makers. -Encourage regional cooperation amongst bordering countries. Cooperation amongst the regions of Trieste, Friuli, Slovenian coastal area, and Istria has already been established. -Encourage and make aware drug users of their rights. Ante Ivancic, President of the 1st Adriatic Drug Addiction Conference on Treatment, Harm Reduction and Rehabilitation Andrej Kastelic, Director of the 1st Central and South Eastern European Symposium on Addictive Behaviours: Substitution Treatment, Regional Networking |
