Implementing Methamphetamine Prevention Strategies into Action (IMPRESA)

Methamphetamine use is spreading in the EU, whereas prevention efforts remain limited and inconsistent. Moreover, we lack a sound understanding what works, in which context, when and specifically for whom, when it comes to tackling methamphetamine use. This multidisciplinary symposium aims to provide an in-depth understanding of the translation processes of best-practice prevention of methamphetamine use related problems. It therefore supports the DG JUSTICE work programme priority of “practical application of drug-related research, and, in particular, addiction research with a view of addressing current challenges and new threats”. Furthermore it addresses action no. 29b of the EU Action Plan on Drugs 2017-2020 aiming to “strengthen the cooperation to tackle the rising trend of stimulant addiction, in particular methamphetamine……, focusing on creating and sharing best practices in preventing the spread from local epidemics”. In order to reduce methamphetamine related harm across Europe and to contribute to preventing a further spread of the methamphetamine epidemic, the symposium will present an effective knowledge transfer model for all affected regions in the EU which a) synthesises the latest evidence on methamphetamine use prevention for the selection of the most adequate evidence-based prevention strategies, b) establishes multi-stakeholder partnerships (incl. local authorities, researchers and civil society stakeholders, e.g. service providers and users) in five highly affected EU cities in Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, Poland and Lithuania to drive the design, implementation and assessment of intervention packages to prevent methamphetamine use problems c) tailors and implements best practice strategies to prevent problems related to methamphetamine use in the five EU pilot cities and d) evaluates translation processes and public health impact of the tailored intervention packages and disseminates results and guidance. No pharmaceutical grants were received in the development and conduction of this study. This work was supported by the EU Grant number: 957715 — IMPRESA — JUST-2019-AG-DRUGS