What is Erit?

Erit is a Federation of Associations of professionals working in the field of drug abuse within different European countries, whose goal is to improve the quality in their interventions. To achieve this goal we support cooperation, exchange of good practice, dialogue and the construction of common tools. Contributing to the promotion of a common European identity for professionals and to the construction of a Europe focusing on shared social values.

Aware that drug problems have no frontiers, ERIT intends to develop its collaboration especially with the Eastern European countries.

Current situation in Europe.

There is increased concern across Europe with issues of community safety

ERIT fears that the present insistence from certain political movements in Europe on law, order and community safety may increase the repression and the social exclusion of drug users.

ERIT believes that well organized prevention, treatment and care services, with proper funding and recognition constitute a great contribution to community safety, for drug users and the wider community.

Investment in treatment and care are an important investment in the safety of society as a whole.

There is urgent need for professionals to organize and focus on the maintenance and development of quality of care, prevention and harm reduction within the field of use of addictive substances.

It is of primary importance to assess the interventions in partnership with those in need of services or those susceptible of becoming dependent, based on ethical principles and respect for human dignity.

We observe that treatments to those with dependency problems may at times be irrational, and be influenced more by ideology rather than by evidence based practice.

Quality of care must be constantly evaluated, influenced by reference to best practices, based on common professional ethics, and informed by the most up to date research from across Europe and beyond.

ERIT is convinced that penalization of consumption leads to the marginalisation of consumers with the risk of accelerating their social exclusion, and demands that States modify their legislations and remove the use of psychotropic substances from the repressive context which slows down the access to care and impedes the setting up of adequate prevention.

After many years, professionals in the field, represented by ERIT consider that they have a legitimate voice, which needs to be heard. This voice should be taken into account in the development of European and national policies.

ERIT notes that drug issues are too often misused for political ends. ERIT urges that using drug issues for political ends is curtailed.

ERIT demands European and national governments work in partnership with the networks of organizations representing professionals in the development and delivery of public policies in matters of dependencies.