The Hungarian government proposed a Russia-style bill that would effectively ban our organisation, the Rights Reporter Foundation.

The new law, introduced by the ruling party on May 14, would blacklist NGOs that the government labels as “foreign agents,” prohibit them from accepting foreign funding, and make it impossible to raise domestic funds. This law threatens the very existence of 

, the project we have dedicated the past 20 years to — a project we have built our lives around. And it wouldn’t stop at NGOs: independent press organisations would also be targeted.

This is not only an existential threat to us and our families. It won’t just destroy the lives we’ve built — it’s 

In poker, “all in” means a player is betting all of their remaining chips on a single hand. This law sends a clear message to the EU from Hungary’s wannabe dictator: 

. I dare to risk everything. I challenge your authority. I challenge your values. Because I can.

We call on EU institutions, member states, donors, and the international community to stop this rampage and support Hungarian civil society in its fight for freedom.

 will survive. They will not silence us. Not only because our servers are hosted abroad, beyond their reach. Not only because we will continue our work from exile if necessary. But because we — the people behind 

We are not afraid. We will fight this madness. 

 was created six years before this regime came to power — and it will still be here long after the regime is gone.

Péter Sárosi and István Gábor Takács

Hungary: Drugreporter will not be silenced

In 2025, the European Union will adopt a new EU Drug Strategy that will define the political direction and priorities for the period 2026–2030.

While the current strategy (2021–2025) recognises the pillars of drug supply reduction, demand reduction, and harm reduction, its implementation has remained disproportionately focused on law enforcement and punitive measures.

This imbalance has not led to improved public safety—instead, it has worsened health outcomes, increased stigma, and deepened the marginalisation of people who use drugs.

Access to essential health and harm reduction services continues to be limited, particularly for vulnerable and underserved communities.

As the next EU Drug Strategy is being shaped, we face a critical opportunity to advocate for a more balanced, health-centred, and human rights-based approach to drug policy.

To seize this momentum, leading European drug policy networks — including C-EHRN, EHRA, IDPC, and HFHR — have launched the European Drug Policy Campaign.

This initiative is supported by the European Drug Policy Alliance, a coalition of civil society and harm reduction experts working to influence the content and implementation of the new strategy.

The campaign will be presented during a webinar on 26 June, the Support, Don't Punish Global Day of Action, bringing together policymakers, civil society representatives, and European drug policy experts to foster dialogue and build momentum for drug policy reform in the EU.

This webinar will feature diverse perspectives from key stakeholders and serve as a platform to mobilise support for a more just, inclusive, and effective EU Drug Strategy.

EU drug policy campaign 2025: A call to invest in a European health-based drug policy-

In 2025, the European Union will adopt a new EU Drug Strategy that will define priorities for 2026–2030. As this critical moment approaches, we call for a shift towards a balanced, health-focused, and human rights-based approach to drug policy.

To support this effort, we are launching the 

, coordinated by C-EHRN in collaboration with the 

Eurasian Harm Reduction Association (EHRA)

International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC)

Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (HFHR)

. The campaign is accompanied by the publication of a new 

Support Don’t Punish Global Day of Action

 outlines urgent recommendations for the EU and Member States, including:

Ensuring a balanced EU Drug Strategy 2026–2030

Establishing dedicated EU-level funding for harm reduction

Prioritising decriminalisation and responsible regulation

This toolkit supports civil society and national stakeholders to engage with policymakers at both the EU and national levels. It includes:

A Canva template for translating the policy paper

Ready-to-use social media content and visuals

Customisable email templates for outreach

Advocacy tips and ideas for national action

We will present the campaign’s goals and share ways civil society organisations and allies can get involved.

EU drug policy campaign 2025: A call to invest in a european health-based drug policy

Civil Society Monitoring of Harm Reduction in Europe

 series explores developments in hepatitis C care for people who inject drugs, based on observations from C-EHRN focal points in 40 cities across 35 European countries. The findings point to trends such as expanded access to direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), ongoing healthcare stigma, and disparities in harm reduction funding. To gain further insights into this year’s report, we spoke with primary author Tuukka Tammi. Download the publication and read the interview below.

Compared to last year’s findings, what has changed the most in hepatitis C care for people who inject drugs?

The biggest shift is the record number of cities in the survey, giving us again a broader view of what’s happening across Europe. Forty cities across 35 European countries is a significant number. Most cities are actively encouraging treatment for people who inject drugs, and DAAs are available everywhere now, but restrictions still prevent universal access. And stigma in healthcare remains a major hurdle.

Were there any surprises in this year’s data—either positive or concerning?

A big win is that free HCV testing is now available in every city, and non-invasive diagnostics with Fibroscan® is more common. But there are still serious challenges. Harm reduction services continue to struggle with funding, and bureaucratic barriers like slow insurance approvals delay treatment.

This year’s report includes more participating cities than ever before. Did this expanded dataset bring new insights?

Definitely. The larger dataset highlights stark differences between cities making good progress and those falling behind. Some have strong policies, easy access to treatment, and well-funded harm reduction, while others still face major gaps due to restrictive policies and lack of funding. As we know more broadly, there are major divides in access to harm reduction services across Europe.

Some cities are making strong progress toward the 2030 HCV elimination goal, while others are lagging. What are the key factors that explain these differences?

Cities moving forward typically have well-funded harm reduction, fewer treatment restrictions, and national policies that prioritize HCV elimination. When treatment is accessible, and stigma is tackled, things improve. But in cities with funding cuts, excessive red tape, and discrimination in healthcare, progress stalls.

Stigma and discrimination remain a major issue in HCV care. What new insights does the 2024 report offer on this challenge?

The report makes it clear that stigma is still a huge issue, especially in general healthcare, gastroenterology clinics, and prisons. One major problem is that many healthcare providers lack training on HCV, leading to unnecessary referrals and delays in treatment. Prescription restrictions for DAAs add another layer of difficulty. If stigma isn’t tackled through policy changes and provider training, it will continue to hold back progress.

The report mentions monitoring schemes for people who inject drugs after their HCV diagnosis and treatment. How well are cities doing in this area?

It’s mixed. Just over half of the cities have structured post-treatment follow-up, which helps prevent liver damage and reinfection. But many still lack proper monitoring systems, making it easy for people to fall through the cracks.

This year’s report also examines access to hepatitis C services for people who use drugs but don’t inject. What are the key takeaways from these findings?

People who inject drugs get most of the attention, but those who use drugs in other ways are often overlooked. The report shows that access to testing and treatment for this group varies widely.

What are the top recommendations from this year’s report for policymakers and harm reduction organisations?

Mostly the same as in previous years. HCV care needs to be easier to access. Funding for harm reduction has to be protected—when services like needle exchanges and opioid agonist therapy are cut, transmission rises. Bureaucratic delays in treatment must be reduced, and healthcare providers need better training to diagnose and treat HCV without stigma. Free testing should be expanded, and governments need clear elimination strategies. Integrating harm reduction into mainstream healthcare is also key to breaking down barriers.

Based on this year’s findings, what should we be paying close attention to in 2025?

Harm reduction funding is a big concern—if cuts continue, progress could backslide. We also need to watch how policies evolve. Are they making treatment easier or harder to access?

Eliminating hepatitis C in Europe: A report on policy implementation for people who inject drugs - 2024

The European Web Survey on Drugs collected data between May and July 2024 from people who use drugs, aged 18 or older, living in EU and non-EU countries. Over 66,000 respondents participated across 31 countries.

Respondents were self-selected and country recruitment strategies consisted of a mixture of social media campaigns, press releases and contacts with drug-related networks. On the basis of their drug use, respondents were presented with modules on one or more of the following main substances: cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy/MDMA, amphetamine, methamphetamine, heroin, new psychoactive substances (NPS) and ketamine. Other drug modules, relevant to specific contexts, were added by individual countries. Questionnaires were presented in the languages of the countries. In EU countries the survey was a collaboration between the EUDA, Reitox national focal points and individual NGOs, and in non-EU countries between the EUDA, national contact points and NGOs. Over 100 organisations participated.

European Web Survey on Drugs (EWSD) 2024

In recent years, Europe has seen early warning signs of an emerging synthetic opioid crisis. While heroin remains the primary opioid of concern, the rise of nitazenes—potent synthetic opioids with unpredictable effects—poses a growing threat. Unlike traditional opioids, nitazenes are often found in counterfeit medications or mixed with other substances, increasing the risk of overdose and complicating harm reduction efforts.

Correlation-European Harm Reduction Network

, is organising a webinar with leading European experts. The webinar will provide an evidence-based overview of the situation around nitazenes in Europe, examine emerging trends, and discuss which policy, healthcare, and harm reduction responses are needed to prepare.

Understanding Nitazenes: What are they, and why are they a growing concern?

Current Trends in Europe: Where are nitazenes being detected, and who is most at risk?

Health and Policy Responses: How can we prepare for and mitigate the risks?

Harm Reduction Strategies: What measures can effectively prevent overdose and support affected communities?

Drug Checking and Surveillance: How can early detection and monitoring systems help?

This interactive webinar will include expert presentations and case studies from different European countries, and a panel discussion to explore the most effective strategies for tackling nitazenes. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and share insights during the Q&A session.

Introduction – Tony Duffin (C-EHRN Chair)

European perspective – Joanna de Morais (EUDA)

Community Perspective – Leo Jefferys (EuroNPUD)

This webinar is crucial for harm reduction and healthcare professionals, policymakers, public health officials, and anyone involved in drug policy or healthcare. It will offer a comprehensive overview of current developments and trends related to nitazenes and explore practical responses at European, national, and local levels.

. Upon registration, you will receive a confirmation email with details on how to join the webinar.

Nitazenes in Europe – How should we prepare?

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has declared a war on drug traffickers, announcing that Hungary will amend its constitution to criminalise drug use. However, civil society warns that this approach is bound to fail and a more integrated, health-focused approach is needed instead.

Gergely Gulyás, spokesperson for the Hungarian government, announced at a press conference on Thursday that the government plans to amend the constitution to include a constitutional ban on the use of illicit drugs. This amendment will be introduced alongside other changes, such as the constitutional declaration that humans can only be male or female, and that the protection of children’s physical, spiritual, and moral development takes priority over everything except the protection of life. Hungary was the first country in the world to introduce a constitutional ban on rough sleeping (homelessness), and it will now become the first country to ban drug use in its constitution. As drug use is already criminalised in Hungary, this legal change is expected to have little practical impact. However, the government has also created a new 150-strong Office Against Drugs (KBEH) within the national police force to “fight against drug trafficking.”

This announcement came just days after Prime Minister Orbán declared a war on drugs in his annual “State of the Nation” speech, claiming that traffickers of synthetic drugs deserve no mercy. “Cheap, toxic concoctions, synthetic substances have flooded the country,” he said, referring to so-called new psychoactive substances, such as synthetic cannabinoids and synthetic cathinones. Although these “new” drugs have been present in the Hungarian drug market since the early 2010s, their use has increased in recent years, particularly among marginalised communities, such as those in segregated Roma settlements. According to Orbán, the trafficking of these drugs “must be eliminated.”

Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán’s new war on drugs

The Eurasian Harm Reduction Association (EHRA) is a non-profit, public membership organization uniting activists and harm reduction organizations from Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia (CEECA), with the mission to actively unite and support communities and civil societies to ensure the rights, freedoms, health and well-being of people who use psychoactive substances in the CEECA region.

The activities will be implemented within the Regional project "Sustainability of services for key populations in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA)” – 

, implemented by a consortium of organizations under management of the ICF "Alliance for Public Health", with the financial support of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Repressive drug policy in CEECA region causes constant and severe human rights violations of people who use drugs. Every year thousands of people who use drugs go to jail for victimless crimes, they are denied treatment, discriminated by social services, abused by police, have limited job and educational opportunities. Most of those rights are guaranteed by national constitutions and international human rights treaties and states are obliged to ensure and protect them.

Each year, EHRA is documenting and preparing country reports, which are 

submitted and presented to UN Treaty Bodies

. In 2025 EHRA is planning to make submissions on Kazakhstan to:

the Human Rights Committee on the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and

the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), and

the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).

The objective of this consultancy is to support the development of submissions to UN treaty bodies on the human rights situation of people who use drugs in Moldova and Kazakhstan (to the above mentioned bodies). The consultant will:

Conduct a comprehensive review of relevant UN treaty body documents on Moldova and Kazakhstan.

Engage with communities of people who use drugs in both countries to identify key human rights concerns, challenges, and individual cases.

Develop a well-researched and evidence-based report for submission to relevant UN treaty bodies (up to 10-15 pages per country/ per report).

To be eligible, consultants must comply with the EHRA 

 on the Russian military aggression in Ukraine.

Applicants must submit a CV and Letter of Interest reflecting competency, proposed number of working days, costs (in euros) to info[@]harmreductioneurasia.org with the RFP number and their name in the subject line.

1. Consultant must speak and write fluently in English and/or Russian.

2. EHRA will sign an agreement with one selected consultant. The contract will define a detailed work plan and payment terms.

3. EHRA reserves the right (but does not commit itself to obligations) to enter into negotiations with one or more applicants in order to obtain clarifications or additional information, as well as to agree on the timing of work.

4. The winner must confirm his/her/their daily rate before signing of the agreement.

5. Results will be announced by March 20, 2025. Each candidate will be contacted individually.

6. Any questions regarding this RFP should be sent to eliza[@]harmreductioneurasia.org until

RFP: EHRA is seeking consultant for development of submissions to UN Treaty Bodies on Moldova and Kazakhstan

In response to the call from the Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights, Mr. Olivier De Schutter, the Eurasian Harm Reduction Association (EHRA) has submitted a detailed report for inclusion in the thematic report “Welfare and Control: The Paternalism of Support,” to be presented at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in October 2025. The report will examine critical concerns in child protection services, including safeguards to ensure that poverty alone is not treated as child neglect, protection of family privacy in interactions with child protection authorities, and measures to prevent parents from avoiding social services due to fear of losing custody of their children.

Developed by EHRA, the regional analysis highlights the profound impact of repressive drug policies in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) on parental rights, particularly for individuals registered as people who use drugs or those receiving opioid agonist treatment (OAT). In countries like Belarus, Estonia, Kazakhstan, and others, punitive legal frameworks often lead to the unjust removal of children from families. Women who use drugs face systemic human rights violations, including forced drug testing, breaches of medical privacy, and barriers to shelters in cases of gender-based violence, along with limited access to healthcare services. These policies not only deter parents from seeking essential support but also expose families to institutional violence and discrimination, exacerbating social inequalities and undermining public health efforts. The report underscores the urgent need for policy reforms to ensure that child protection systems are not used as punitive tools against marginalized communities but instead fulfill their purpose of safeguarding children while upholding fundamental human rights.

Addressing the intersection of poverty, child protection, and drug policy in EECA - Contribution to the upcoming report of the UN SR on extreme poverty

 February 13, 2025 - 10:00 AM GMT / 11:00 AM CET


Join EuroNPUD for an Informational Session on Peer Work and Harm Reduction!

EuroNPUD invites you to an engaging session on the power of peer work, drug user organising, and how to involve people who use drugs in community-based harm reduction service provision.

This webinar will be led by EuroNPUD consultants:

The webinar will showcase examples of peer-led research and best practices developed through the EU4Health BOOST Project.

Insights into peer work and community-driven harm reduction.

Strategies for meaningful involvement of people who use drugs in service provision.

Peer-led research examples and best practice resources.

Register in advance to secure your spot! After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with details on how to join the meeting.

Peer work and drug user organising: Experiences, peer-led research & best practices

We are pleased to announce the release of a new briefing paper that examines the challenges faced by marginalized communities with intersecting identities in accessing healthcare and social services. Developed through collaboration by SWAN, ECOM, EHRA, and EWNA, this paper explores the experiences of LGBT individuals, people who use drugs (PWUD), sex workers (SW), and people living with HIV (PLHIV) across Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia (CEECA). Drawing on comprehensive research and community feedback, the paper provides insights and practical recommendations to address stigma, discrimination, and structural inequalities impacting these groups.

This briefing paper explores the impact of intersecting identities—such as LGBT, people who use drugs (PWUD), sex workers (SW), and people living with HIV (PLHIV)—on health access, agency, and social justice in the context of structural inequalities and stigma. Using the framework of intersectionality, it examines how overlapping identities shape lived experiences of discrimination, influencing mental and physical health outcomes and access to healthcare services. The paper is based on cross-regional consultations conducted across 14 countries in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia (CEECA), including surveys and focus group discussions with 103 individuals with multiple intersecting identities.

The insights gathered aim to deepen understanding of intersectional stigma and discrimination while offering practical recommendations to improve service provision, rights-based programming, and advocacy efforts. By addressing the unique vulnerabilities and strengths of marginalized communities, this paper provides actionable guidance for healthcare providers, advocates, and policymakers to design inclusive interventions that mitigate stigma and promote equitable access to health and social support systems.

Tackling intersectional stigma in healthcare access for marginalized communities in CEECA

 Until recently, Bulgaria was seen as a place where harm reduction services had 

, with the situation quite bleak. Now, it seems that things have changed. Can you tell me more about when and how this happened?

 You know about the Pink House—the project began in 2019. We started as a low-threshold center for people who use drugs in Sofia. Initially, we provided basic support such as food, clothing, and access to a bathroom. Over time, we identified additional needs, such as a lack of personal documents and disconnection from the social and healthcare systems. These challenges make reintegration into society nearly impossible. In response, we expanded our efforts to address these issues. We developed a program for social inclusion that helps individuals obtain new IDs, access social support, receive social pensions, and secure housing. We also began covering medical expenses for those without health insurance and assisting those with some social support to maintain their health insurance, which is a “must” for accessing healthcare in Bulgaria. For the first two years, we covered all expenses through crowdfunding and made efforts to secure government funding, but it didn’t work out In the following two years, we managed to fund our work through several projects, primarily related to addressing the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Then, in 2023, we had a breakthrough. The government, through the Sofia municipality, provided funding, and we signed a five-year contract for all Pink House activities. Additionally, we received a grant from an international donor at the same time. With this support, we started expanding services—outreach, needle exchange, and IBBS (Integrated Biological and Behavioral Surveillance) for our clients. Things took off from there, and now we’re opening a branch in Plovdiv, which has a large Roma community. The new facility is expected to be fully operational by the end of the year. We choose Plovdiv not only because it is the second-largest city in Bulgaria but also because there is a well-trained team from another foundation that has been working in the area for years.

 What services are now supported by the government, and what does the other grant cover?

 The Municipality of Sofia supports all activities related to social services we offer. This includes meeting basic needs such as clothing, shoes, and food; offering social support for our clients; social and healthcare case management; and covering some health expenses, such as medical examinations and medications. Additionally, the municipality funds all team salaries, including those for the psychiatrist, psychologists, nurse and social workers, as well as the rent and overhead costs of the facility.
The other donor covers everything related to outreach, including the supply of consumables such as needles and syringes, smoking kits; IBBS, testing and the costs medical staff. We’re also working on securing long-term government funding for these kinds of activities. We applied and were chosen for a public tender, but the funding available is very limited and the process complicated. However, we’re now in a serious collaboration with the Ministry of Health, which is something we couldn't achieve for years.

 Did something change within the Ministry?

 People changed. We’re in a serious political crisis here, with upcoming elections—eight in four years—so stability is rare. Currently, though, we have allies. The municipality’s deputy mayor supports us, and we’re planning many new initiatives with them.

The only challenge the Municipality has struggled to address is securing a permanent location for our facility. In May 2024, we had to leave the premises where we had worked for five years. This has become a serious problem, as we have not yet been able to find a suitable alternative. Currently, we are operating out of a very small municipal space that does not meet our needs.

The mayor of the Serdica region in Sofia made a significant effort to help, securing a plot of land where we could place a movable house. In response, we launched our largest crowdfunding campaign to date and raised €52,000 in just one week to purchase the house.

Unfortunately, this progress coincided with consecutive elections, which allowed a far-right party to gain visibility. They organized protests against us, and as a result, the commissions of the Municipality parliament decided to reject our project for the house at the proposed location. We are now in the process of securing another site for the house.

 Are you the only organization providing harm reduction services in Bulgaria?

 Does the state funding cover needle exchange services?

 No, the funding is so limited that it barely covers partial staff costs, not supplies like needles. Thanks to another donor, we’re currently able to run a needle exchange, but it’s unclear what will happen when that funding ends. The current HIV Strategy also ends in 2025, and we’re hopeful there will be political will to extend it. Just recently, I met with a Ministry of Health official who seemed very supportive, which is promising. The numbers are stark—we’ve tested over 900 people this year, and 82 are HIV positive, with 60% also having Hepatitis C.

 So, the government funding really only covers staffing?

 Yes, it’s enough to partially cover staff costs but not actual services or supplies. However, considering that seven years ago we had nothing, it’s still progress. We started with crowdfunding, and I was the only staff member. Now, we have 13 people in our team. The real challenge will come when another donor funding ends. The goal is to secure a sustainable funding mechanism for harm reduction across Bulgaria.

 are only active in Sofia. In Plovdiv, harm reduction was previously provided by another organization that closed and donated their van to Ukrainian refugees. Now, we’re actually borrowing that van for outreach! It’s old and in poor condition, but it’s something. The Ministry of Health also has mobile units that we could use, but they must be staffed by medical personnel from the regional health inspectorates, who aren’t familiar with our community or practices. Still, this problem will be minimalized when we open the Pink House – Plovdiv in the end of the year. We have a contract with the Municipality of Plovdiv and are repairing the building now.

 Can you describe what services the Pink House currently offers?

 The Pink House functions as a day center where people can come and spend time. But it’s small, without a bathroom, which is challenging, especially with winter coming. We’re hoping to find a bigger place, but locations that meet municipal requirements are limited. Ideally, we’d have our own mobile or movable building so that if there’s a change in political support, we can relocate.

 It sounds like the public is also more supportive now. Has that made a difference politically?

 Absolutely. In the beginning, no one talked about harm reduction, and I was seen as a lone voice. But now, the public has become much more supportive, and that’s influenced political action. Harm reduction isn’t seen as a "junkie" issue anymore but as an important social cause. I’ve even become an advisor to a few politicians who are using drug policy messages in their campaigns. So, the public’s support has pushed this issue into the political spotlight, which has been a huge change.

 It’s impressive that you’ve also gained support from the Ministry of Social Affairs. What has that experience been like?

 That’s been a revelation. The Agency for Social Services Efficiency understand the problem better than health officials because harm reduction involves social issues that are more visible to people than health risks. The Social Ministry is much more open to support our work. Looking back, I think focusing solely on the Ministry of Health was a mistake. Social services deal with people’s daily lives, so they understand the urgency. This collaboration has even set a precedent for government funding of harm reduction in Bulgaria.