Addiction prevention as mission for euro net
In addition to repressive measures, addiction prevention is the main tool used in nearly all European countries to combat problems of addiction and drugs. These problems are taking on an increasingly international dimension. Therefore, it seems appropriate to combat this phenomenon at an international level.
This was the aim which euro net, the European Network for Practical Approaches in Addiction Prevention, set itself following the 'European Workshops on Prevention' in 1992 and 1994. The intention is to develop effective prevention strategies at the European level to combat the misuse of legal and illegal drugs.
The addiction prevention activities organised by euro net are principally concerned with so-called 'primary addiction prevention'. These:
- focus on the development of both substance-based addiction (alcohol, medicines, illegal drugs) and substance-independent addiction (e.g. gambling),
- are both structure- and person-oriented,
- are aimed at strengthening resources that can be utilised by people, groups and institutions.
- are aimed at reducing the existing risks and/or learning to deal with these risks (risk management).
The aforementioned aims are pursued in specific projects, above all by utilising the peer concept.
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