Reitox network meets to showcase 2022 highlights, new digital resources and plan future activities

Heads of the national focal points (NFPs) of the Reitox network are meeting in Lisbon today to discuss network business and the planning of activities for 2023. On the agenda of the three-day meeting are discussions on the revision of the new EMCDDA mandate, international cooperation projects and recent and future policy and institutional developments.

The meeting comes just days after the fourth European Conference on Addictive Behaviours and Dependencies (Lisbon Addictions 2022), where some 30 representatives of NFPs delivered presentations.

Two new Reitox promotional resources, launched this month, will be reviewed at the meeting:

• Reitox: a model European network bridging science, policy and practice is the title of a new EMCDDA video capturing the essence of the network. The video, which was screened at Lisbon Addictions 2022 in the session 'Policy and practice to tackle addictions around the world', is available here.
• Reitox national focal points -2022 highlights is a new web page presenting the highlights of the work of the NFPs over the past year. By clicking on a country in an interactive map, users can view a pop-up box presenting three highlights per NFP.

These resources were developed under the 2022 EMCDDA-Reitox work programme.

In addition to network management issues, the meeting will include sessions dedicated to new drug-related projects in the areas of public health and drug markets. Topics for discussion will include: new digital platforms for data collection, recession and drug use and drug consumption rooms. Updates will also be given on a range of activities, including those of the EMCDDA Reference Group on drug supply and the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT).

The latest EMCDDA reports will be presented at the meeting, including Recreational use of nitrous oxide: a growing concern for Europe. National focal points contributed to the case studies presented in this publication, based on information collected within their national networks.

The Reitox network is composed of 29 NFPs in the 27 EU Member States, Turkey and Norway, as well as a focal point at the European Commission. The NFPs - from which the agency draws the bulk of its data - collect and analyse national information on drugs, drawing on various sectors, including health, justice and law enforcement.