The report on the current state of play of the Council Recommendation of 18 June 2003 on the prevention and reduction of health-related harm associated with drug dependence has been finalised. The report results of the work of experts from Gesundheit Österreich Forschungs- und Planungs GmbH and SOGETI, in close collaboration with EAHC, EMCDDA, DG SANCO, and DG JUST.

It presents the updated overview of the implementation of the Council Recommendation in the EU countries and several candidate countries, including country profiles, as well as analyses of epidemiological trends. The study also assesses the availability of - access to- and -coverage of- harm reduction measures based on the answers to a policy survey and a survey among field organisations.

The available scientific evidence regarding interventions to prevent and reduce health-harms associated with drug dependence was analysed and in addition four systematic Literature Reviews (peer naloxone programs, prison release management, needle exchange in prison, measures to change the route of administration) were produced. Finally, the report provides country overviews on harm reduction policies, services and facilities.
The main output is a set of 13 conclusions regarding the follow-up of the Council Recommendation, based on the application and combination of the scientific effectiveness of interventions and the availability and coverage. Based on these the authors have identified 3 priority areas of action: the reduction of drug-induced deaths, the improvement of harm reduction in prison and the reduction of harm caused by drug-related infections.