Defining a European policy on drugs would require outlining shared aspects in different domains: that of product trade regulations, the prevention of consumption of abusive substances and their effects, the assistance and care available for people suffering from these effects, and those involved in research and assessment. Such a policy cannot be limited to cooperation between State administrations and the setting up of institutions for collecting information, such as the European Observatory in Lisbon, even though these initiatives are clearly not in vain.
Until now, in the European Treaties where the issue has been raised, the desire to remain vague has prevailed to avoid creating a conflict between the different policy orientations which exist between certain States or governments, and not to bring into question the domination of the prohibitionist and repressive ideas sanctioned by the Single Act of Vienna. This international agreement, established under the aegis of the UN, advocates increasing the repression of drug users, at a time when the spread of AIDS and other epidemics amongst them requires, on the contrary, that they be included in prevention policies.

After nearly a century of international policies which have given first place, at American instigation, to repression and the prohibition of certain drugs, Europe has an historic role to play by promoting a more humane, more socially-oriented and, above all, a more efficient approach.

We, representing professionals working in the field of drug misuse, from several European countries, declare that deep similarities exist in Europe, based on which a new policy should be constructed, focusing on the quality of campaigns, harm reduction and citizenship.

We demand of the European Union and the authorities of European countries that they:

• commit themselves to the development of such a common policy,
• demand that the Vienna Convention be renegotiated and that it defend, in all international situations, ideas more in keeping with its values than that of the "war against drugs",
• give more active support to exchanges and collaboration between NGOs and field workers.

I   A POLICY FOCUSED ON QUALITY

To confront the problem of drug misuse, it is necessary, in every country of Europe, to improve all preventive and therapeutic, educational, medical or social solutions.

We confirm our willingness to be fully involved in this joint commitment to quality.

At European level, quality criteria for each different type of intervention must be established by professionals, with qualified partners and in consultation with users, while respecting differences. For this does not mean that Europe should set itself up as a system of standardizing services regardless of the differences born of the diversity of cultures and health and welfare structures. In this domain also, too much European technocracy could kill Europe.

The quality of the campaigns and services for which we wish to work is based on ethics and pragmatism, professionalism and assessment, a cross-disciplinary and complementary approach.

Ethics and pragmatism:
The campaigns run must above all be of interest to and correspond to the needs of users. They must also, without exception, abide by ethical and deontological principles, such as professional secrecy, non-discrimination and the protection of individual liberties.

Professionalism and assessment:
Morals and fine sentiments do absolutely nothing to cure drug addiction, on the contrary. Prevention as well as care require professional skills based on appropriate training programs and definition of goals and methods incorporating inspection and assessment procedures.

Cross-disciplinary and complementary approach:
No discipline and no body of specialists can claim to be the sole keeper of scientific truth and efficiency regarding drugs and drug addicts. For this reason, we attach the greatest importance to dialogue between professionals and society, and to the design of multi-disciplinary practices seeking, simultaneously, truly diverse, consistent and complementary campaigns.

II A POLICY FOCUSED ON HARM REDUCTION

Since the AIDS epidemic, the necessity of including, in all drug-related policies, the goal of lowering the risks associated with drug use and no longer simply that of "fighting against" this use, has become prominent throughout Europe. But beyond the fight against epidemics, lowering risks must extend to the minimization of the damage and harmful effects linked to using drugs both for individuals and for community as a whole. It must satisfy community interests while facilitating access to care, the end purpose of which is to help individuals leave behind their suffering and dependence.

Whether preventive, therapeutic or social, actions must be thought through (or rethought) in function of this global strategy.

With regards to prevention, this should lead to differentiating between risks in function of products and use habits, and to developing educational methods based on individual and collective responsibility, rather than on proscription. Educational campaigns targeting young people must help them to develop their own preventive attitudes to the misuse of psycho-active substances. For those who already use drugs, campaigns must help them reduce the risks they are taking with their health and involve families and the entire population to have an influence on factors such as rejection and insecurity.
It is in this type of logic, for example, that preventive campaigns bringing together residents and users in city districts have been launched, or information campaigns about ecstasy at rave parties, or that in some towns injection centers have been opened. This type of experiment should be considered in every European country.

With regards to care, the first concern must be to protect the lives of users and to improve the psychosocial situation for those who need it, before even trying to include them in a detoxification program. To provide care, we know that we need, above all, time and human relationships. Also, it is necessary to make a priority of:

• facilitating access to primary care by taking the initiative with users,
• reduce as much as possible the period which separates initial dangerous use and recourse to assistance and advice,
• constantly connect the lowering of risks with the provision of diversified care appropriate to the various stages, from accompaniment from the dependency stage to help with quitting the habit, possibly going through periods of imprisonment.

It is based on goals such as these, that various programs with a "low" or "adjusted" threshold are set up, for example, and that systems of taking charge by using medically controlled distribution of different kinds of opiates have been organized, including, in some cases, injectable heroin. Such possibilities should be considered throughout Europe, as part of the widest and most coordinated range of care.

With regards to social action, the stakes are increasingly high as the economic crisis which several countries are experiencing is causing the phenomena of drug abuse and social exclusion to grow.
The position of users is generally improved when they can acquire or preserve their fundamental rights, especially their social rights: rights to minimum benefits, housing, medical insurance, legal aid, training, employment. The processes of drug addiction in themselves generate risks of desocialization and even delinquency which, in turn, increase dependency and its consequences. It is precisely for this reason that all intervention must focus on the social integration of drug addicts and ex-addicts. Social integration must be increased using all forms of solidarity, especially intracommunity links (different types of work, neighborhood reception, cultural links, etc.). Police and judicial action against delinquency should not increase exclusion. Public safety and public health should be managed together.

III A POLICY FOCUSED ON CITIZENSHIP

During the period of crisis which States and societies are living through, Europe is seeking a social model which, without leading to an escalation of public expenditure, will make it possible to regulate the social effects of the world concentration of economic powers and profits, and allow social and medico-social action to satisfy the needs of populations which are vulnerable and in danger of marginalization.
Such a model will only be truly effective if it guarantees these populations access to fundamental rights, both individual and collective, civic and social, in the main areas of social integration such as housing, employment, the family, health, expression, association, education and culture. The question of citizenship therefore lies at the heart of the construction of social Europe. As the definition of an individual's status at the center of the democratic system, citizenship is based on the exercise and reinforcement of the political and social rights which have been won over the course of modern history, especially to compensate for family and community solidarity which have been damaged by economic and technological developments.
This issue is of particular interest to drug addicts, who experience a status of exclusion in most States, combined with that of the delinquent and the unwell.
The building of Europe has a role to play to ensure that drug users can acquire responsible citizenship and can benefit from such fundamental rights as:

• the freedom of being cared for, the possibility of choice of treatment and the freedom to leave it,
• the freedom of movement throughout Europe and the possibility of following a treatment programme,

This means that all States coordinate minimum policies and provide the means to reach these objectives.

In this regard, we ask the European Union to contribute and to encourage member States to:

• work towards the removal of any penalty for simple use contained in their legislation, especially imprisonment or any measure used to restrict freedom,
• prevent any confusion arising between care and judicial action,
• Invest in social innovation and not only in medical and pharmacological research,
• Include the running of drug-related professional services and institutions in the ordinary social health and welfare system, as for any other psycho-social symptom (alcoholism, medicinal and other addictions, mental health, etc.).

For our part, we are committed to defending these ideas to the regional, national and European public authorities, and putting them into practice as far as we are able within our own departments, institutions and joint actions.