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"B DECISION No 102/97/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL
of 16 December 1996
adopting a programme of Community action on the prevention of drug dependence within the framework
for action in the field of public health (1996-2000)
(OJ L 19, 22.1.1997, p. 25)
Amended by:
Official Journal
No page date
"M1 Decision No 521/2001/EC of the European Parliament and of the
Council of 26 February 2001 L 79 1 17.3.2001
NB: This consolidated version contains references to the European unit of account and/or the ecu, which from 1 January 1999 should be
understood as references to the euro — Council Regulation (EEC) No 3308/80 (OJ L 345, 20.12.1980, p. 1) and Council Regulation(EC) No 1103/97 (OJ L 162, 19.6.1997, p. 1).1997D0102 — EN — 01.01.2001 — 001.001 — 1
DECISION No 102/97/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND
OF THE COUNCIL
of 16 December 1996
adopting a programme of Community action on the prevention of drug
dependence within the framework for action in the field of public health
(1996-2000)
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE
EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in
particular Article 129 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (2),
Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions (3),
Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 189b of the
Treaty (4), in the light of the joint text approved by the Conciliation
Committee on 1 October 1996,
(1) Whereas drug dependence has grown alarmingly in the Member States
and has serious implications for the health of individuals and thewelfare of the general public;
(2) Whereas, by setting up in 1985 a Committee of Inquiry into the
problem of drugs in the Member States of the European Community,the European Parliament demonstrated its desire to study in depth thefactors which trigger drug demand and enable drugs to continue being
produced and distributed;
(3) Whereas in its resolutions concerning this problem (
5) the European
Parliament formulated a series of proposals with a view, in particular,
to Community action on the prevention of drug dependence;
(4) Whereas the European Council, at its meeting in Dublin on 25 and 26
June 1990, ‘stressed the responsibility of each Member State to
develop an appropriate drug demand reduction programme’ and
‘considered that effective action by each Member State, supported byjoint action of the Twelve and the Community, should be a mainpriority over the coming years’;
(5) Whereas the actions undertaken at Community level on the basis of
Council resolutions, declarations and conclusions relating to theprevention of drug dependence, and in particular subsequent to the
emphasis placed by the European Council, meeting in Rome on 14 and
15 December 1990, on the European Plan to Combat Drugs, havehelped to sustain the Member States’ efforts;
(6) Whereas the Council, in its Resolution of 2 June 1994 (
6), in response
to the Commission communication of 24 November 1993 on aframework for action in the field of public health, included drug
dependence among the priority areas for Community action for which
the Commission was invited to bring forward proposals for action;
(7) Whereas Regulation (EEC) No 302/93 (
7) established a European
Monitoring Centre on Drugs and Drug Addiction (EDMC) to provide
the Community and the Member States with reliable and comparableinformation concerning drugs and drug addiction;!B
(1) OJ No C 257, 14. 9. 1994, p. 4 and OJ No C 34, 7. 2. 1996, p. 4.
(2) OJ No C 110, 2. 5. 1995, p. 8.
(3) OJ No C 210, 14. 8. 1995, p. 88.
(4) Opinion of the European Parliament of 20 September 1995 (OJ No C 269, 16. 10.
1995, p. 65), Council common position of 20 December 1995 (OJ No C 37, 9. 2.
1996, p. 1) and Decision of the European Parliament of 16 April 1996 (OJ No C
141, 13. 5. 1996, p. 42). Council Decision of 12 November 1996.
(5) OJ No C 172, 2. 7. 1984, p. 130;
OJ No C 283, 10. 11. 1986, p. 79;
OJ No C 47, 27. 2. 1989, p. 51 and OJ No C 150, 15. 6. 1992, p. 42.
(6) OJ No C 165, 17. 6. 1994, p. 1.
(7) OJ No L 36, 12. 2. 1993, p. 1.1997D0102 — EN — 01.01.2001 — 001.001 — 2
(8) Whereas, in accordance with its constituent Regulation, the EDMC
actively seeks the cooperation of international organizations and other,particularly European, governmental and non-governmental agencieshaving responsibility in the sector of drugs;
(9) Whereas the declaration on the occasion of the entry into force of the
Treaty on European Union adopted by the European Council, meeting
in Brussels on 29 October 1993, emphasized that the Treaty provides‘a structured institutional framework, so that in particular greatercontrol can be achieved over those of society’s problems that run
across frontiers, such as drugs (…)’;
(10) Whereas the problems associated with the drugs phenomenon are such
that they require a fully coordinated and global strategy, as stated bythe European Council, meeting in Brussels on 10 and 11 December1993;
(11) Whereas a multidisciplinary approach should in particular ensure that
the social and personal implications of the phenomenon are taken into
account, in order to limit the adverse consequences to the health andsocial situation of affected persons;
(12) Whereas drug dependence is the only scourge expressly referred to in
the provisions of the Treaty dealing with public health and is therefore
a priority for Community action within the framework for action in the
field of public health set out by the Commission;
(13) Whereas drug dependence is a major health scourge which can be
prevented;
(14) Whereas a Community strategy designed to contribute to the
prevention of drug dependence should be based on a global approach
to prevention;
(15) Whereas this programme is one of the essential components of the
Commission communication to the European Parliament and theCouncil of 23 June 1994 on a European Union Action Plan to combat
drugs (1995-1999), on which the Council commented in its con-
clusions of 2 June 1995;
(16) Whereas, by reason of its scale and effects, Community action to
encourage support for the prevention of drug dependence will make abetter contribution to achieving the desired objectives, which come
within the framework of Article 129 of the Treaty, in particular the
second subparagraph of paragraph 1 thereof;
(17) Whereas cooperation with the competent international organizations
and with non-member countries should be strengthened;
(18) Whereas a multiannual programme should be launched with clear
objectives for Community action, and priority measures should be
selected, as well as appropriate mechanisms for the evaluation of such
action, with a view to preventing drug dependence and the associatedproblems;
(19) Whereas the programme should have the objective of helping to
combat drug dependence by preventing dependence linked to the use
of narcotics and psychotropic substances and associated use of other
products for the purposes of drug addiction;
(20) Whereas a Community strategy must place the emphasis on data,
research and evaluation as well as information, health education andtraining and must take into account the complex nature of the
phenomenon, the risks associated with it and the fundamental
importance of the wide variety of health and social responses vitalto health protection and the quality of life;
(21) Whereas this strategy implies consistency with the measures
implemented under other Community programmes and initiatives,
particularly in the field of public health and in the social field;
(22) Whereas the Community action programme on health promotion
includes specific measures to prevent alcohol abuse, and the health andsocial consequences of such abuse, and measures to encourage the
rational use of medicinal products, and whereas this programme
includes specific measures to prevent the use of all types of narcoticsand psychotropic substances, including the new synthetic drugs, and!B1997D0102 — EN — 01.01.2001 — 001.001 — 3
the associated use of other products for the purposes of drug addiction
(multiple drug dependence);
(23) Whereas there is a need to improve knowledge of the phenomenon of
drugs and drug dependence and their consequences, and of the ways
and means of preventing drug addiction and the associated risks;
(24) Whereas there is a need both for general preventive action and for
preventive measures focusing on specific target groups, particularly
the young and marginal groups, while avoiding stereotypes of drug
users;
(25) Whereas socio-economic conditions have to be taken into account in
the prevention of drug dependence and can thereby influence the
measures taken;
(26) Whereas the prison environment is one of the environments for which
preventive action appears necessary;
(27) Whereas it is important that the Commission ensure implementation of
this programme in close cooperation with the Member States; whereas,to that end, provision should be made for a procedure to ensure that
Member States are fully involved in implementing the programme;
(28) Whereas a modus vivendi between the European Parliament, the
Council and the Commission concerning the implementing measures
for acts adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article
189b of the Treaty was concluded on 20 December 1994;
(29) Whereas, from an operational point of view, the investment made in
previous years in terms of both the establishment of Community
networks of non-governmental organizations and of the mobilizationof all those involved should be safeguarded and developed; whereasmultidisciplinary cooperation and cooperation between the public and
private sectors, including NGOs, should be promoted with a view to
preventing drug dependence;
(30) Whereas, however, possible duplication of effort should be avoided by
the promotion of the exchange of experience and by the joint
development of basic modules for informing the general public, forhealth education and for training members of the health-careprofessions and members of the various groups involved in the
prevention of drug dependence, which may be targeted on specific
groups;
(31) Whereas the objectives of this programme and of the actions
undertaken to implement it form part of the health protection
requirements referred to in the third subparagraph of Article 129 (1)of the Treaty and as such form a constituent part of the Community’sother policies, the aim being to use the opportunities presented within
the framework of other Community policies, programmes and
instruments for improving the efficiency of the prevention of drugdependence;
(32) Whereas, in order to increase the value and impact of the programme,
a continuous assessment of the measures undertaken should be carriedout, with particular regard to their effectiveness and the achievementof objectives both at national level and Community level, and, where
appropriate, the necessary adjustments should be made;
(33) Whereas this Decision lays down, for the entire duration of the
programme, a financial framework constituting the principal point of
reference, within the meaning of point 1 of the Declaration of the
European Parliament, the Council and Commission of 6 March 1995,for the budgetary authority during the annual budgetary procedure;
(34) Whereas this programme should run for five years in order to allow
sufficient time for actions to be implemented in order to achieve the
objectives set,!B1997D0102 — EN — 01.01.2001 — 001.001 — 4
HA VE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
Article 1
Establishment of the programme
1. A programme of Community action on the prevention of drug
dependence, hereinafter referred to as ‘the programme’, shall be adoptedfor the period 1 January 1996 to
"M131 December 2002 3within the
framework for action in the field of public health.
2. The objective of the programme shall be to help in combating drug
dependence, in particular by encouraging cooperation between the MemberStates, supporting their action and promoting coordination between their
policies and programmes with a view to preventing dependence linked to the
use of narcotics and psychotropic substances and associated use of otherproudcts for the purposes of drug addiction.
3. The actions to be implemented under the programme and their specific
objectives are set out in the Annex under the following headings:
A. Data, research, evaluationB. Information, health education and training.
Article 2
Implementation
1. The Commission shall ensure the implementation, in close cooperation
with the Member States, of the actions set out in the Annex,
"M1in
accordance with the procedures laid down in Article 5a(2) and (3) 3.
2. The Commission shall cooperate with the institutions and organizations
which are active in the field of drug demand reduction; it shall promote
multidisciplinary cooperation and cooperation between the public and private
sectors, including NGOs.
3. The Member States are called upon to take the measures they judge
necessary to coordinate and organize the implementation of this programme
at national level.
Article 3
Budget
1. The financial framework for the implementation of the programme for
the period from 1 January 1996 to 31 December 2000 shall be EUR 27
million, for the period from 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2001, EUR 5,38million, and for the period from 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2002,EUR 5,38 million.
2. The annual appropriations shall be authorized by the budgetary authority
within the limits of the financial perspective.
Article 4
Consistency and complementarity
1. The Commission shall ensure that there is consistency and complement-
arity between actions to be implemented under this programme and other
relevant Community programmes and initiatives, including the Socrates,
Leonardo da Vinci and Y outh for Europe (III) programmes and the biomedicaland health research programme under the Community’s framework pro-gramme for research, and social measures to promote the reintegration of
drug users and former drug users.
2. The Commission shall also ensure that the activities implemented take
into account the work of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and DrugAddiction (EDMC). It shall also ensure, together with the Member States, thatthe Community’s priorities and needs are taken into due account in the
EDMC’ s programmes.
3. The Commission and the Member States shall ensure consistency with
the European Union’ s Action Plan to combat drugs.!B
!M1
!B1997D0102 — EN — 01.01.2001 — 001.001 — 5
!M1
Article 5
Implementing measures
The measures necessary for implementing this Decision, relating to the
matters referred to below, shall be adopted in accordance with themanagement procedure referred to in Article 5a(3):
(a) an annual work programme indicating the priorities for action;(b) the arrangements, criteria and procedures for selecting and financing
projects under the programme, including those involving cooperation
with international organisations competent in the field of public health
and participation of the countries referred to in Article 6(2);
(c) the evaluation procedure;
(d) the arrangements for dissemination and transfer of results;
(e) the arrangements for cooperating with the institutions and organisations
referred to in Article 2(2).
The necessary measures for the implementation of this Decision as regards
other matters shall be adopted in accordance with the advisory procedure
referred to in Article 5a(2).
Article 5a
Committee
1. The Commission shall be assisted by a Committee.
2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 3 and 7 of Decision
1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article 8 thereof.
3. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 4 and 7 of Decision
1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article 8 thereof.
The period laid down in Article 4(3) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be set at
two months.
4. The Committee shall adopt its rules of procedure.
Article 6
International cooperation
1. In the course of implementing the programme, cooperation with
non-member countries and with international organizations having responsi-
bility in the field of public health shall be encouraged and implemented
"M1in accordance with the procedures laid down in Article 5a(2) and (3)
3.
In particular, the Commission shall cooperate with the Council of Europe’s
Pompidou Group, with international intergovernmental organizations such as
the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco), the International LabourOrganization (ILO) and with the United Nations International Drug ControlProgramme (UNDCP).
2. This programme shall be open to participation by the following countries:
(a) the EFTA/EEA countries in accordance with the conditions provided for
in the EEA Agreement;
(b) the associated countries of central and eastern Europe in accordance with
the conditions laid down in the Europe Agreements, the Additional
Protocols to these Agreements and the decisions of the relevant
Association Councils;
(c) Cyprus which shall be funded by additional appropriations, in accordance
with procedures to be agreed with this country;
(d) Malta and Turkey which shall be funded by additional appropriations in
accordance with the provisions of the Treaty.!B
!M11997D0102 — EN — 01.01.2001 — 001.001 — 6
Article 7
Monitoring and evaluation
1. The Commission, taking into account the reports drawn up by the
Member States and with the participation, where necessary, of independentexperts, shall ensure that an evaluation is made of the actions undertaken.
2. The Commission shall submit to the European Parliament and the
Council an interim report in July 1998 and a final report upon completion of
the programme. It shall incorporate into these reports the results of theevaluations. It shall also forward these reports to the Economic and Social
Committee and the Committee of the Regions.!B
!M11997D0102 — EN — 01.01.2001 — 001.001 — 7
ANNEX
PROGRAMME OF COMMUNITY ACTION ON THE PREVENTION OF DRUG
DEPENDENCE
A. DATA, RESEARCH, EV ALUATION
Objective
To improve knowledge of the phenomenon of drugs and drug dependence and its
consequences and of means and methods of preventing drug dependence and the
risks relating thereto, in particular by using the information supplied by the EDMC
and the possibilities offered by existing Community programmes and instruments.
Actions
1. Help identify the data to be collected, analysed and disseminated for the
purposes of the programme, including data on polysubstance dependence.
2. Exploit the data most useful for the implementation of the programme, on the
basis in particular of a regular communication of the work of the EDMC.
3. Help develop a strategy for research on the prevention of drug dependence, in
particular to improve knowledge as regards the impact in the public healthsphere of policies targeting drug users and on the effects of drugs and the useof appropriate techniques for preventive purposes.
4. Support studies and pilot projects on the socio-economic, socio-cultural and
psycho-sociological factors associated with drug dependence, including intarget groups.
5. Support studies and actions and promote the exchange of experience on ways
and means of preventing the risks associated with drug dependence, inparticular with a view to:
— preventing, in drug-dependent pregnant women, the effects of drugs on
the foetus and the risks of transmitting infections to the child,
— reducing the risks associated with the injection of drugs,— making an assessment of accompanying health measures, in particular
substitution programmes,
— evaluating methods and programmes for prevention and risk reduction in
the management of drug-dependent prisoners.
6. Support and encourage the exchange of information and experience,
especially among members of the various groups involved in the preventionof drug dependence, and among persons who have a long-term positiveinfluence on drug users, such as families and guardians, on the prevention ofdrug addiction relapses, including rehabilitation of drug users and linksbetween social and health aspects thereof, as well as other actions providedfor in Article 4 (1).
B. INFORMA TION, HEALTH EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Objective
Contribute to improving information, education and training aimed at preventing
drug dependence and the associated risks, in particular, for young people in the
relevant environments (for example home, school, university and leisure time) andparticularly vulnerable groups, including former drug users.
(a) Information and health education
Actions
7. Support schemes to evaluate the effectiveness of information and health
education campaigns and carry out regular public opinion surveys viaEurobarometer to monitor changes in Europeans’ attitudes towardsdrugs.
8. Organize further European Drug Prevention Weeks on the basis of
previous experience.!
B1997D0102 — EN — 01.01.2001 — 001.001 — 8
9. Help identify, test and develop the best information and educational tools
and methods for target groups, and in particular:
— encourage the use of information tailored to particular environ-
ments or circles, taking account of changes in patterns of use andproducts used, and of the phenomenon of polysubstance depen-dence,
— support schemes to adapt messages to the needs and specific
features of particularly vulnerable groups,
— support the development of telephone helpline services and
consider the feasibility of introducing a single telephone number
for such services in all Member States.
10. Help define guidelines on the prevention of drug abuse and foster the
selection and use of teaching methods and materials, in particular within
the context of the European network of health-promoting schools,enabling in particular highly specialized social behaviour programmes tobe defined in order to develop attitudes in young people which willenable them to avoid drugs and drug addiction; support integratedprojects, programmes and other drug prevention initiatives in placesfrequented by children and young people, in a close dialogue with them,
with the participation wherever possible of parents and those concerned;
promote recourse to the expertise of persons liable to come into contactwith groups of potential users.
11. Encourage exchanges of experience on initiatives aimed at improving
coordination between all those involved in the provision of education.
12. Support schemes for advising teachers, families and those responsible
for young people on the early detection of the use of drugs and the action
to take.
13. In cooperation with the EDMC and the Council of Europe, if need be,
encourage the extension of the European network of ‘test towns’, so as to
promote technical cooperation on the ways and means used by thesetowns to reduce drug demand.
14. Support exchanges of experience, particularly on a regional cross-border
basis, concerning local prevention, grassroots and street-level initiativesdesigned to benefit risk groups which are not always reached byconventional assistance and prevention strategies. Support exchanges ofexperience on prevention models and practices involving towns indifferent Member States which are particularly affected by the problemof drugs.
(b) Training
15. Promote initiatives to improve the drug prevention aspect of vocational
training programmes for teachers and those responsible for young peopleand encourage exchanges of students training for the social and health-care professions, including exchanges under other Community pro-grammes.
16. Support the development of further-training programmes, teaching
materials and modules for those likely to come into contact with drugusers and groups at risk, including in particular social work, health-care,police and other law-enforcement professionals; promote multidisci-plinary cooperation and cooperation between the public and private
sectors, including NGOs, with a view to preventing drug dependence.!
B1997D0102 — EN — 01.01.2001 — 001.001 — 9