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OBJECTIVES

With the purpose of painting an accurate and exact image of the extensiveness of the drug phenomenon, objective and reliable information is necessary. The aim is to provide politicians, professionals and citizens the information needed in order to campaign in an appropriate way against drugs.

The "Drugs" programme of the Scientific Institute of Public Health, has to fulfil a number of obligations :

• on the national level, as described in the "Political note of the Federal Government related to the Drug issue" of 19 January 2001 under the headings of the "Belgian Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction" and the "Early Warning System";
• on the international level within the framework of the missions of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addictions (EMCDDA; regulation EEC n° 302/93 of the European Council on 8th February 1993, which fits into the general framework of the Treaty of Maastricht), because it carries out the role of Belgian Focal Point of the European Network for Drugs and Drug Addiction (Réseau Européen d'Information sur les Drogues et les Toxicomanies - REITOX).

Three main objectives can be distinguished in the work of the Drugs Programme:

1. Development of a Belgian information network.
In line with the European Information Network on Drug Addiction REITOX (Réseau Européen d'Information sur les drogues et les TOXicomanies), the Drugs Programme, acting as Belgian National Focal Point, created and maintains a network of partners and information sources on drug-related matters. A list of partners can be consulted under "Team & Partners".

2. Collecting, analysing, synthesising and dissemination of data related to the drug phenomenon in Belgium.

3. Serving as a permanent link with the EMCDDA and participating in the implementation of the REITOX programme.
The REITOX National Focal Points are the main interface for information exchange between the EMCDDA and the Member States, and fulfill in that regard a double role. Firstly, under the responsability of their government, they are the national authority delivering drug-related data to the agency. Secondly, under supervision of the EMCDDA, they are "ambassadors" representing and advocating REITOX in their country.

The Drugs Programme ensures the link between the EMCDDA and the Belgian network: information flows in both directions to ensure constant feedback between all organisations concerned.

The REITOX programme requires that information is gathered, analyzed, interpreted, summarized and also improved. Please refer to our "Activities" section for a complete overview.

4. Development of a national early warning system on drugs.
In Belgium, the early warning system not only concerns new psychoactive substances, but every particularly dangerous drug. A system for information collection and exchange has been developped and ties with existing networks are strengthened.