The REITOX Experience Lessons learned in developing a network of National Drugs Focal Points and challenges for the future Alan Lodwick, Head of UK National Focal Point and Reitox Spokesperson Viktor Mravcik, Head of Czech National Focal Point
Dec 31, 2015
The REITOX Experience
Lessons learned in developing a network of National Drugs Focal
Points and challenges for the future
Alan Lodwick, Head of UK National Focal Point and Reitox Spokesperson
Viktor Mravcik, Head of Czech National Focal Point
The REITOX Network
The European Information Network on Drugs and Drug Addiction
1993 EMCDDA Regulation : referred to REITOX as a “computer network” linking specialised centres
2006 EMCDDA Regulation: a network of Focal Points with well defined responsibilities
Focal Points are the “interface” between participating countries and the Centre
Réseau Européen d’Information sur les Drogues et les Toxicomanies
National Focal Point Responsibilities(as set out in the 2006 Regulation)
Contribute to the establishment of key indicators and data including guidelines
Co-operate with experts and organisations active in the drugs field
Bring together experience from different sectors Collect and analyse all relevant information in an
objective manner at national level Include information on policies and solutions applied Provide data for the 5 Epidemiological Indicators
The Reitox Network Now 30 National Focal Points, an EC Focal Point
and Co-ordination at EMCDDA About 130 full-time equivalent staff in NFPs Diverse national arrangements for NFPs
reflecting differing national contexts size government and administrative structures existing information systems & research tradition culture, history and nature of drugs problem national demands for information
A “network of networks” Co-operation and support between NFPs
National Focal Point Key Relationships
National Focal Points
EMCDDA (and EU)5KIs, Information on Policies and Interventions, EU Action Plan
National Government - Policies and interventions- Administration and funding
National ScientificCommunity-National experts-Academic institutions
Specialist Agenciese.g. public health,statistics
Sub-nationalAdministrationsDevolved responsibilities
LocalAgencies
Parentinstitution
National Focal Point Tasks
Delivering an Annual Reporting Package: Standard Tables Structured Questionnaires Annual Report
Promoting the implementation of the 5 Key Epidemiological Indicators
EDDRA / “Best Practice” project
Early Warning System on New Psychoactive Substances
Dissemination of EMCDDA Outputs
Within a formal annual agreement and a clear quality framework
Reitox Achievements Delivering the Annual Reporting Package Working in partnership with EMCDDA to set out
agreed work programmes, reporting structures & instruments and quality standards
Providing added value at national level Central to monitoring of the EU Action Plan
“.. A key role in helping the EMCDDA to fulfil its mission, both in collecting information on the drugs situation in Europe and in helping to disseminate the EMCDDA’s scientific outputs”
external evaluation of the EMCDDA - December 2007
Reitox Challenges Maintaining support and co-operation at national
level Encouraging collection of standardised data while
recognising national needs and differences Adapting to changing requirements and new
phenomena within limited resources Improving and rationalising outputs published Improving and demonstrating the quality of
information provided Reitox enlargement and international cooperation
The Czech Reitox NFP – An Example of the Interaction Between National and European Drug Information Systems
Czech NFP – Background
Czech Drug Policy Strategy since 1993 (fourth one in 2005-2009)
Candidate country since 1996 EMCDDA technical assistance projects Phare twinning (Austria plus other EU experts)
Cooperation with Reitox and EMCDDA started already before the Czech NFP was established ESPAD, TDI register since 1995 DRDs Special Register since 1998 PDU estimates since 1999 But historical (treatment) data on illegal drugs since 1959
EU member state since 2004 – full inclusion into Reitox and EMCDDA structures and reporting life
Czech NFP and DIS – Structure
Czech National Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction – Reitox NFP
Established by the Government in June 2002 within the secretariat of the Government Council for Drug Policy Coordination
Fully operational since January 2003 7-7.5 staff members National Action Plan for Drug Information
System - biannual 7 permanent task groups (5 on KI, law-
enforcement data, EWS), other ad hoc groups Advisory Board for Drug Data Collection
Czech NFP – Tasks Reflects EMCDDA tasks at the EU level Situation analysis
hard core – 5 harmonised KIs other (core) data
Responses, policies, strategies Other special projects (EDDRA/Best Practice,
ELDD,EWS) Information Dissemination
Annual Reports Bimonthly fact-sheet „Zaostřeno na drogy“ Other publications www.drogy-info.cz (www.focalpoint.cz)
Not only coordination function, but also data production
Impact of Reitox Membership on the Czech NFP and DIS
Adoption of grounded and novel scientific methods, approaches, and know-how
Quality and standardisation of data collection and analysis
Quality assurance of information outputs Development of national Drug Information System Easy and fast information exchange within Reitox
network Participation in European/international projects Strengthening of scientific/expert „semi-independence“ of
NFP and DIS Dissemination of EMCDDA and Reitox standards to the
third countries (potential EU candidates and others)
Summary of Cooperation within Reitox
A lot of work and duties Both methodological/scientific and technical/administrative
But mutually (mostly) beneficial and appreciated Allowing common and concentrated actions towards
new phenomena and challenges Increasing common understanding of complex drug
phenomenon within Reitox members (e.g. convergence of terminology)
Very often interesting and inspiring (new methods, tools, approaches, projects)
Based on formal framework but realised in a way of informal interpersonal relations and communication
Reitox Lessons Learnt True Partnership is key System must have the means to evolve in a
controlled way Need for agreed guidelines and standards
with incentives to comply But system needs to allow flexibility about the
way that objectives are achieved Recognise the need for networks within the
network Must serve European but also national needs
and give added value to both levels
Thanks☺
[email protected] [email protected]
www.emcdda.europa.eu/about/partners/reitox-network www.ukfocalpoint.org
www.drogy-info.cz (www.focalpoint.cz)