European Union Drugs Agency - EUDA

31/03/2026

How much do we really know about what is in the substances being used today? 🔍

On International Drug Checking Day, we highlight the role drug checking services play in helping people understand what they are taking, at a time when drug markets are becoming more unpredictable.

🧪 Drug checking supports safer choices by identifying unexpected substances, dangerous mixtures or unusually strong products. It also provides timely insights into what is actually circulating on the market, strengthening harm reduction, monitoring and public health responses.

Yesterday, we brought together practitioners, researchers and authorities for a webinar on this topic. The recording is now available, exploring how drug checking services contribute to harm reduction, drug market monitoring and public health alerts across Europe.

👉 Watch the recording here: euda.europa.eu/media-library/euda-webinar-international-drug-checking-day_en

30/03/2026

📰 Do you work on drugs, health, security or prevention in Europe?

The March issue of our Drugnet Europe newsletter brings together the latest EUDA evidence, analysis and practical tools, including:
🔵 New Europe‑wide wastewater findings on drugs
🔵 How ketamine is moving from legitimate medicine to illicit markets
🔵 Fresh evidence on drug market-related violence
🔵 New tools on infectious diseases, gender and drug checking
🔵 Webinars and learning opportunities

👉 Read the March issue: https://mailchi.mp/euda/drugnet-europe-198-march2026
👉 Subscribe to Drugnet Europe: https://europa.us7.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=7661463396b2fc9d763392225&id=3f011a8795

27/03/2026

Today, our colleagues have come together for a day dedicated to shaping the EUDA Strategy 2030. 🧭

This has been about co-creation. We have exchanged ideas, listened and learned from each other across teams and roles. Our strategy is not being written by a few for the many. We are building it together, so it reflects the full extent of the work we do and the people who do it.

By involving almost all staff members, we have laid the foundations for a strategy that feels shared, practical and grounded in experience. The discussions, reflection and collective thinking today have been an important part of that process.

26/03/2026

❓ Did the illicit fentanyl trade experience a supply shock?

In our recent webinar, Professor Peter Reuter and Kasey Vangelov explored the unexpected decline in fentanyl overdose deaths in North America in 2023–2024 and discussed whether a major disruption in supply may have played a role.

Interested in what recent data show on deaths, purity, seizures and online signals, and what this could mean for drug policy and public health preparedness?

🎥 Watch the full recording of our webinar here: https://www.euda.europa.eu/media-library/euda-webinar-did-illicit-fentanyl-trade-experience-supply-shock_en

26/03/2026

If you are planning surveys among people who inject drugs, the right tools can help ensure that data collected is reliable, comparable and useful. 🧠📊

Our Drug‑related infectious diseases (DRID) toolkit brings together practical guidance, ready‑to‑use questionnaires and real examples from across Europe to support the high‑quality monitoring of HIV and viral hepatitis.

🧪 Use it to design surveys that fit your context
📋 Choose between long and short questionnaires, depending on your needs
🌍 Learn from best practice examples used in different countries
📈 Support progress towards eliminating viral hepatitis and ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic among people who inject drugs

Importantly, this is not just one document in one language. The DRID toolkit is available in 25 languages, and the questionnaire files are available in 35 languages, making it accessible for national and local teams in diverse settings.

Explore the toolkit here and use what works for you: https://www.euda.europa.eu/toolkit/drug-related-infectious-diseases-toolkit_en

24/03/2026

🔎 What happens when public health threats cut across borders and EU mandates?

Today in Lisbon, the European Commission and EU health, environment and security agencies came together to work on how the EU prepares and coordinates its response in practice to serious public health threats.

🧩 For us at the EU Drugs Agency, this connects to our evolving role in public health threat assessment and closer cooperation across the EU system. It highlights the need for shared input on health, environmental and security related risks, and for clear ways of working together when fast assessments are needed.

Day one focused on lessons learnt from recent simulations, with discussions on improving workflows for data sharing, clearance processes, internal mobilisation and surge capacity. Colleagues took part from the European Commission, the European Medicines Agency, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control - ECDC, EFSA, the European Chemicals Agency - ECHA, the European Environment Agency and Europol.

➡️ The meeting continues tomorrow with work on concrete next steps.

24/03/2026

You can still join our webinar happening today! ⬇

Did the illicit trade experience a supply shock?

Join Professor Peter Reuter and Kasey Vangelov for a discussion on the unexpected decline in fentanyl overdose deaths in North America in 2023–2024 and whether a major supply disruption may have played a role. We will also look at the implications for drug policy and public health preparedness.

📅 Date and time: 24 March 2026 │ 14:30–15:30 Lisbon time (WET) │ 15:30–16:30 (CET)

👉 Register now: https://www.euda.europa.eu/event/2026/03/euda-webinar-did-illicit-fentanyl-trade-experience-supply-shock_en

💻 EUDA webinar: Did the illicit trade experience a supply shock?

Join Professor Peter Reuter and Kasey Vangelov for a discussion on the unexpected decline in fentanyl overdose deaths in North America in 2023–2024 and whether a major supply disruption may have played a role. We will also look at the implications for drug policy and public health preparedness.

📅 Date and time: 24 March 2026 │ 14:30–15:30 Lisbon time (WET) │ 15:30–16:30 (CET)

We will explore:
✅ What recent data show on deaths, purity, seizures and online signals
✅ Possible links to precursor controls and other supply side actions
✅ What these trends could mean for preparedness and international cooperation

👉 Register now: https://www.euda.europa.eu/event/2026/03/euda-webinar-did-illicit-fentanyl-trade-experience-supply-shock_en

23/03/2026

Civil society organisations play a vital role in understanding how drug-related issues affect people and communities in real life. Their expertise, experience and work on the ground help make policies and responses more effective.

That’s why we’re strengthening how we work with civil society.

We’ve launched the EUDA civil society platform on drugs, a new online space where we work directly with civil society organisations through consultation, knowledge sharing and structured dialogue.

We invite non-governmental, voluntary, non-profit and community organisations, people with lived and living experience, and representatives of affected communities to take part.

👉 Explore how we work with civil society:
https://www.euda.europa.eu/activities/euda-civil-society_en

📝 Register your organisation on the platform:
https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/EUDA_CivilSocietyPlatformOnDrugs_RegistrationForm

By working together, we can ensure that responses to drug-related challenges are shaped by evidence and lived experience.

21/03/2026

🗓️ Today, we mark International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
Equality before the law and respect for fundamental rights are core principles of the European Union.

🤝 Across the EU Justice and Home Affairs Agencies’ Network, our agencies contribute — within their respective mandates — to policies, systems and cooperation that promote fairness, non discrimination and equal treatment. Addressing racial discrimination is essential to strengthening trust, ensuring effective public services and supporting cohesive, resilient communities across Europe.

Today, we reaffirm our shared commitment to dignity, equality and human rights for everyone. 🌍

18/03/2026

📢 Our new wastewater analysis is out — offering a unique look into drug use patterns across Europe.

🧪 Together with the SCORE network, we analysed wastewater from 115 cities, uncovering clear geographical differences, weekday versus weekend trends, and long‑term shifts.

🗺️ See how your city compares: euda.europa.eu/publications/html/pods/waste-water-analysis_en

17/03/2026

Drugs and prison are closely interlinked. Many people who enter prison have experience with drug use and drug use in prison reflects wider drug trends on the outside. It poses serious health risks for people living in prison and challenges for prison management. It is also connected to organised crime and trafficking beyond prison walls. That is why preparedness in prison settings matters.

📍 Today in Lisbon, we are bringing together experts from different countries, national and international organisations, prison administrations, public health and drug services to strengthen responses. Discussions range from improving monitoring and data collection, to addressing mental health and infectious diseases and understanding how drug markets operate in detention facilities and connect to those outside.

This meeting is part of our approach and takes place under the EU Drugs Agency presidency of the EU Justice and Home Affairs Agencies’ Network ( ). By connecting health, security and policy perspectives, we aim to anticipate risks earlier and support more effective responses where they are most needed.

🔍 Over the next day and a half, the focus will be on practical tools, shared learning and building capacity for the future.

👉 Explore our work on prison and drugs: https://www.euda.europa.eu/topics/prison_en

🧩 See what’s ahead under our JHAAN presidency: https://www.euda.europa.eu/activities/jha_en

16/03/2026

📮 Now you can send a postcard from Portugal with our agency on it!

To mark Portugal’s 40 years of EU membership, a commemorative stamp series has been launched as part of a national initiative celebrating Europe in Portugal. One of the stamps features the buildings of two EU agencies based in Lisbon — the EU Drugs Agency and the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA).

A small but meaningful symbol of Portugal’s European journey.

🔗 Discover the commemorative stamp series: https://appserver2.ctt.pt/femce/category.jspx?shopCode=LOJV&categoryCode=5373

🤝 Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros de Portugal, Parlamento Europeu - Gabinete em Portugal, Representação da Comissão Europeia em Portugal, CTT Correios de Portugal



––––––––––––––––

📮 Agora já podes enviar um postal de Portugal com a nossa agência representada!

Para assinalar os 40 anos de adesão de Portugal à UE, foi lançada uma série de selos comemorativos no âmbito de uma iniciativa nacional que celebra a Europa em Portugal. Um dos selos retrata os edifícios das duas agências da UE sediadas em Lisboa — a Agência da União Europeia sobre Dr**as e a Agência Europeia de Segurança Marítima (EMSA).

Um símbolo pequeno, mas significativo, da trajetória europeia de Portugal.

🔗 Descobre a série de selos comemorativos aqui: https://appserver2.ctt.pt/femce/category.jspx?shopCode=LOJV&categoryCode=5373

🤝 Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros de Portugal, Parlamento Europeu - Gabinete em Portugal, Representação da Comissão Europeia em Portugal, CTT Correios de Portugal