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« Declaration on protecting public health by ensuring essential services in drug policy under austerity budgets (Athens Declaration) »

30 November 2013

We the representatives of States participating in the 73rd meeting of Permanent Correspondents of the Pompidou Group, Noting that the global financial and economic crisis in Europe and the related austeritymeasures have already brought about and may imminently exacerbate challenges related to the health of the individual and of the population as a whole, as well as the cohesion of our societies;

Noting with great concern the changing patterns of drug use under circumstances of strict austerity measures, such as the possible risk of an earlier onset of drug use, the increasing prevalence of injecting use, relapses, risk taking, overdosing, particularly among vulnerable groups; the increasing incidence of poly-drug use, involving illicit and licit substances, the impact of such behaviours on public health as well as on criminality;

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