A feature of an effective drug prevention system is the training of stakeholders.1 Progress in this area in Ireland can be seen through the implementation of the European Prevention Curriculum (EUPC) training programme, albeit to limited numbers to date.

What is the EUPC?
The EUPC is a training programme whose primary goal is ‘to reduce the health, social and economic problems associated with substance use by building international prevention capacity through the expansion of the European professional prevention workforce’ (p. 10).2

It originated as an American training programme, the Universal Prevention Curriculum, and underwent a rigorous adaptation process to ensure its suitability for the European context.

The EUPC provides training for decision-makers, opinion-makers, and policy-makers on how to prioritise evidence-based interventions and policies and how to advocate for them. Progress is currently being made to expand the EUPC to train frontline workers.

EUPC in Ireland
Prevention is one of the six strategic priorities identified in the mid-term review of Ireland’s national drugs strategy, in which specific mention is made of the EUPC.3 The priority is:

To strengthen the prevention of drug and alcohol use and the associated harms among children and young people: This will cover a variety of settings (school, community, and family) and will focus on increasing resilience and strengthening life skills and healthy life choices. Activity under this priority will be informed by the EUPC and the UNODC/WHO International Standards on Drug Use Prevention.2,1,3

The EUPC has featured in two contexts in Ireland since the adoption of this strategic priority:

1    The Prevention and Education Funding Programme of the Department of Health is supporting five projects, each of which must adhere to international prevention standards.4 Staff working on the projects were required to undertake the EUPC training, which was delivered in May 2024. The Department of Health has actively supported two staff members to take part in EUPC training courses to the level of being qualified to deliver this training.5

2    The EUPC is evolving. Clondalkin Drug and Alcohol Task Force (CDATF) was the Irish partner in the European project, Frontline Politeia, which completed its work in December 2023. Although the EUPC training originally focused on training decision-makers, opinion-makers, and policy-makers, Frontline Politeia aimed to develop and implement the EUPC for frontline prevention workers, including teachers, police, and social workers. Based on the EUPC and international standards, the project team developed a two-day in-person drug prevention training programme, as well as an online learning path with six interactive e-learning modules.

3    CDATF was involved in various stages of the project, including delivering the adapted EUPC training to frontline workers in Ireland. Based on their learnings, CDATF contributed to the further development of the training materials and activities.

Concluding comment
Training stakeholders in prevention will lead to better funding decisions, improved implementation, and should in turn result in more positive outcomes for participants. The EUPC is heavily supported by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) and it is a positive step for it to be delivered at a national level.

1    United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and World Health Organization (WHO) (2018) International standards on drug use prevention. 2nd edn. Vienna: UNODC. Available from: https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/30048/

2    European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) (2019) European prevention curriculum: a handbook for decision-makers, opinion-makers and policy-makers in science-based prevention of substance use. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union. Available from: https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/31119/

3    Drugs Policy and Social Inclusion Unit (2021) Mid-term review of the national drugs strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery and strategic priorities 2021–2025. Dublin: Department of Health. Available from:  https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/35183/

4    Department of Health (2023) Press release: Minister Naughton announces successful projects for €1.5 million drug prevention and education funding scheme. Dublin: Department of Health. Available from:  https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/38803/

5    For further information on EUPC training in Ireland, email Richie Stafford: Richie_Stafford@health.gov.ie