This toolkit aims to support the EMCDDA’s stakeholders, other actors and researchers in the drugs field to implement their own foresight exercise in the form of an introductory trend-based workshop. It describes briefly the foresight and trend analysis approach and general principles of how both can be applied effectively in the drugs field. It defines all the steps needed in preparing, implementing and documenting such a workshop. It draws heavily on the works of the Joint Research Centre foresight team and the results of the EMCDDA’s foresight activities to date.

Key phases of the process

Phase 1: Preparation of the trends workshop — critical issues to consider such as the definition and communication of a clear and realistic aim (i.e. answering the question 'What do we want, and can we realistically achieve, with this workshop?').
Phase 2: Mapping and prioritising of the trends — use of trends cards set, and additional trends. Participants then identify and prioritise trends regarded as especially critical.
Phase 3: Analysis of the implications and impacts — an overview of the respective implications for the drugs field as well as the organisation.

See toolkit website for more on trend cards set 

Templates:

• Agenda of the workshop
• Mapping and priorities trends (example)
• Mapping and priorities trends (empty)
• Analysis of the implications (example)
• Analysis of the implications (empty)