Western Europe

Blog7 December 2025

Why Member States must rebalance the EU drug strategy – before it’s too late

The European Commission's new Drug Strategy promotes a worrying security-driven 'drug threat' narrative that fails to prioritise health and human rights over punishment.

Publications23 November 2025

EU Strategy for Civil Society

The EU’s new Civil Society Strategy delivers a boost to frontline organisations and underlines the commitment to protecting civil society space, fostering official mechanisms of engagement with EU institutions, and supporting funding.

Events

Policy webinar: advancing universal health coverage for people who use drugs

10 October 2025 - 10 October 2025

On World Mental Health Day, discover how we can make Universal Health Coverage truly inclusive and equitable for people who use drugs.

Events

Harnessing international advocacy for national progress: regional and international advocacy tactics for civil society to influence national policies

Online

18 November 2025

A RESILIENT project workshop offering tools, case studies, and practice for civil society in EECA to use regional and international advocacy to influence national policy and protect civic space.

Events

Rethinking coca: Indigenous knowledge, science, and international drug policy

Vienna, Austria

3 December 2025

Join researchers, policymakers and Andean community voices at CEU Vienna to explore coca’s cultural, scientific and political dimensions — and what the WHO’s review means for global drug governance.

News20 October 2025

UK Green party leader Zack Polanski backs legalisation of all drugs

Polanski argues that legalisation would promote a 'public health' response and reduce drug-related crime, as his party’s support continues to rise across the UK.

Events

Scaling up naloxone access in Europe: overcoming challenges

Online

5 November 2025

This webinar highlights progress, persistent barriers, and advocacy efforts to expand this harm reduction intervention's life-saving availability.

News15 October 2025

Descheduling the coca leaf is overdue justice - IDPC statement to the 48th meeting of WHO's ECDD

IDPC urged experts to end a colonial injustice, calling for the coca leaf to be descheduled and Indigenous traditions and rights fully recognised.

News15 October 2025

Spain: Government approves the use of medical cannabis, limited to hospitals and prescribed by specialists

The regulation will allow hospital specialists to prescribe medical cannabis when other treatments are ineffective.

Publications14 October 2025

Harm reduction in Europe: Histories, choices and hopes - Collection commemorating 20 years of C-EHRN

This collection examines Europe’s harm reduction journey, including early successes, uneven implementation, securitisation, stigma and medicalisation; and proposes a reframed, people-led approach centring wellbeing, acknowledging drug-use benefits, and advancing rights-based reforms.

News14 October 2025

Drugreporter visits CheckIt! – Vienna’s pioneering drug checking service

Austria’s CheckIt! has offered lab-based drug testing and confidential counselling for more than two decades — building trust and preventing harm where prohibition has failed.

Publications6 October 2025

Safeguarding rights in EU drug policy - Contribution to the European Commission's call for evidence on the EU drugs strategy and action plan against drug trafficking

IDPC calls on the European Commission to ensure the next Strategy is balanced, evidence-based, and rights-centred, prioritising harm reduction, civil society participation, and policy innovation over punitive approaches.

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