Objective
The objective of the Action is to gain information concerning the impact of various drug policy-concepts and measures on the extent, nature and consequences of drug abuse. This study should contribute to providing an improved and rational basis for drug policy measures, and to enabling those concerned to identify topics for a shared European drug policy, in contrast to topics where national or regional solutions are more appropriate.
A secondary objective is to improve knowledge on the feasibility and the modalities of evaluation studies in the field of drug policy, of preventive and therapeutic interventions against drug abuse, and to invite more widespread and appropriate use of those modalities. The development of adequate instrumentation and methodology for evaluative purposes is included.
A third objective is to establish working relationships with international and national scientific networks in this field.
A fourth objective has been defined as preparing or facilitating multi- centre evaluation studies.
Current status
In addition to the fifteen signatory countries, observers from other units of the Commission dealing with the subjects and other international organisations such as the WHO are participating in the Action.
Five Working Groups with specified working plans have been set up :
WG 1 : Evaluation of Policies, Policy Changes and Societal responses to Policies
WG 2 : Evaluation of Primary Prevention
WG 3 : Evaluation of Treatment/Rehabilitation
WG 4 : Development of Research Instruments for an Evaluation of Interventions
WG 5 : Evaluation of Action against Drug-Related Crime.
All Working Groups have been very active in organising workshops or in participating in conferences linked to COST A6 (see list below).
With regard to the fourth objective described above, three multi-centre research projects are based on preparatory work by COST A6 :
Dual-diagnosis patients in out-patient and residential treatment (Co-morbidity study)
Co-ordination : University Mental Health Research Institute, Athens (GR)
Participation : Germany, Greece, Italy, The Netherlands
Funding : DG V of the EC
Improving psychiatric treatment in residential programmes for newly dependent groups through relapse prevention (IPTRP)
Co-ordination : University of Maastricht (NL)
Participation : Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, The Netherlands, Italy, Spain, the UK
Funding : DG XII of the EC, Biomed II
Consensus study on format and content of evaluation in primary prevention (Delphi study)
Co-ordination : Ludwig Boltzmann Institute für Suchtforschung, Vienna (A)
Participation : Austria, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland
Funding : Austrian national funds.
Work planned
1997 will be the final year for COST A6. All Working Groups will organise scientific meetings and workshops; a final conference will be organized. Training courses, the dissemination of knowledge to a wider audience in co-operation with all WGs and the European Training Institute in Amsterdam will probably be included in the workshop programmes. Training models will be elaborated within COST A6, and the training of trainers will be a crucial point.
As far as instrument development is concerned, the service description in substance abuse treatment will be the focus for 1997.
The publication of country reports, of topical papers from 1996 and 1997 workshops as well as of guidelines for the evaluation of treatment of drug abuse is being planned.
Programme(s)
Topic(s)
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
Data not availableCoordinator
1049 Brussels
Belgium