A new University of Limerick research project will study interventions that aim to prevent youth recruitment and participation in European drugs markets. The study – titled ‘Promising Approaches, Opportunities and Barriers for Interventions to Prevent Youth Recruitment and Participation in European Drugs Markets’ – will be led by the Research Evidence into Policy, Programmes and Practice (REPPP) Project, a strategic partnership between UL’s School of Law and the Department of Justice, aimed at improving understandings about youth crime and the effectiveness of youth crime policy, programmes, and practice.

REPPP will lead the study on behalf of the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) – the leading authority on illicit drugs in Europe – which is funding the project. The project aims to enhance crime prevention efforts in Europe by evaluating existing interventions for the prevention of youth involvement in drug markets and drug-related crime; identifying implementation barriers to progress; developing a framework for new interventions and leading a committed network of experts to encourage the sharing of learning across Europe...