In his paper outlining a toolkit for those delivering drug education, Darcy (2021) refers to the EMCDDA’s Best Practice Portal.1,2 The Best Practice Portal is designed to help practitioners find practical and reliable information on what works (and what does not) in the areas of prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and social reintegration. It aims to help them identify tried and tested interventions quickly, allocate resources to what is effective, and improve interventions applying tools, standards, and guidelines. The portal is divided into four broad areas.

1 Policy and practice briefings

The policy and practice briefings are designed as a one-stop-shop for anyone planning or delivering health and social responses to drug problems in Europe. They cover three topics:

• Types or patterns of substance use
• Needs of particular groups
• Responding in particular settings.

Each briefing consists of five sections:

• A summary of the main issues
• The main response options
• An overview of the European Union picture
• Key implications for policy and practice
• Links to further resources.

2 Implementation

This section of the portal provides four online inventories aimed at those planning or implementing interventions. These inventories are maintained by the EMCDDA.

• Xchange Prevention Registry
• Healthy Nightlife Toolbox
• European Prevention Curriculum (EUPC)
• Evaluation Instruments Bank (EIB).

3 Evidence database

The evidence database area of the portal gives access to the latest research and evidence on drug-related interventions. The information is based on systematic searches and is updated regularly. 

4 Standards and guidelines

Standards and guidelines are popular instruments to promote quality and implement evidence-based recommendations. The translation of evidence-based recommendations into practice is the so-called ‘implementation’ process. In some cases, it is sufficient to adopt the guidelines at service level; in other cases, an adaptation to the local context is needed. 

Figure 1: EMCDDA Best Practice Portal

1 Darcy C (2021) Drug education best practice for health, community and youth workers: a practical and accessible tool-kit. Health Educ J, 80(1): 28–39. https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/33087/
2 The Best Practice Portal is available at: https://www.emcdda.europa.eu/best-practice_en