The First Module Seminar of the 2017 Pompidou Group Executive Training took place in Israel from 28 to 30 March 2017. It brought together 35 participants from 25 countries. Drug policy managers from participating countries explored the specificities of the NPS phenomenon with the focus on existing prevention and treatment offers available in Israel. Knowhow transfer and shared experiences was provided by study visits to successful projects in the fields of drug prevention, early detection and treatment. The seminar provided examples of flexible and pragmatic responses to NPS related problems. This module was co-organised together with the Israel Anti-Drug Authority (IADA). Following three eventful days in Israel, participants unanimously agreed that the activity provided much inspiration for results-oriented approaches that put the patient’s well-being at the centre of the attention.

During the Second Module seminar planned for 30 May – 2 June in Alicante, Spain, participants will continue exploring existing measures and concepts and their applicability to NPS. They will also have an opportunity to reflect, to identify which existing demand and harm reduction approaches can be applied to NPS and how they can be implemented in practice and in national context. Already the discussion and feedback at the First Module Seminar show that the participants will deliver some highly relevant conclusions to the Pompidou Group’s Permanent Correspondents once the second module is completed.