The Health and social responses to drug problems: a European guide 2021 was developed to support practitioners and policymakers in tackling the negative consequences of drug use. The guide is composed of four sets of miniguides that look at responses to a range of drug problems in Europe. Framing the miniguides are two central resources: an action framework for developing responses and a set of strategies for successful implementation. Several spotlights frame issues cross-cutting the different components.

Action framework for developing and implementing health and social responses to drug problems.
The action framework introduced here will help to clarify current thinking about the response process and the factors to take into account at each stage. This will be of particular interest to those planning health and social policy or interventions to address drug problems, but can equally apply to responses at the individual level.

Patterns of use
Miniguides considering problems from the perspective of particular patterns of drug use and the specific substances that are of concern.

• Cannabis: health and social responses
  Non-medical use of medicines: health and social responses
• Opioids: health and social responses
• Stimulants: health and social responses
• New psychoactive substances: health and social responses
• Polydrug use: health and social responses

Harms

Miniguides considering responses to particular drug-related harms that are of concern in many EU countries.

• Drug-related infectious diseases: health and social responses
• Opioid-related deaths: health and social responses

Settings

An important factor that can influence drug use, the problems that may be associated with use and the selection of appropriate responses is the setting in which use occurs.

• Local communities and drugs: health and social responses
• Recreational settings and drugs: health and social responses
• Workplaces and drugs: health and social responses