MedNET is the Pompidou Group’s Mediterranean network for co-operation on drugs and addictions.

It promotes co-operation, exchange and mutual transfer of knowledge between countries on both sides of the Mediterranean, with due regard to human rights and gender equality.

It was created in 2006, after a feasibility study carried out at the suggestion of France and the Netherlands. Since then, the group has met with a positive response and has expanded both geographically and thematically, to promote effective and appropriate responses to addictions.

 

 


 Members

The network currently consists of 18 countries: 11 Pompidou Group members (Cyprus, Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Morocco, Portugal, Slovenia, Switzerland, Turkey) and 7 non-members (Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine*, Spain, Tunisia).


 Long-term objective

The long-term objective of MedNET is to promote the design and delivery of coherent policies on addictive behaviours, based on scientifically validated knowledge.

All projects submitted by the participating countries will have to be developed and implemented with a special focus on human rights, and due regard to gender equality.


 Priorities

Priority is given to the following topics:

  • Prevention of addictive behaviours
  • Promoting the collection of reliable, objective and comparable data and creating, or providing support to, national observatories
  • Development of national balanced strategies
  • Socio-sanitary responses to addictive behaviours; risk and harm reduction
  • Law enforcement and fight against drug trafficking
  • Training and research

 Learn more about MedNET: 

 Functioning of the Network

 Actions under MedNET

 Documents and publications

 Watch video by Prof. Jallal Toufiq on impact of MedNET

 Mediterranean school surveys (MedSPAD)

 Special file: MedNET anniversaries

Discussion on human rights and drug policy

In May 2020, MedNET published an overview on human rights and people who use drugs in 17 MedNET countries. Among the topics covered are the consideration of drug use as a disease when developing drug policy, the right of access to care and treatment as a fundamental right for people who use drugs, the implementation of evidence-based prevention practices and health strategies, the fight against stigma and the need to adapt the legal framework to include a human rights approach.

This publication is the outcome of a discussion within the MedNET Committee with the objective of gaining a better understanding of the meaning of human rights in drug policy and exchanging best practices and ideas on this subject.

The discussion was initiated following the “Stavanger Declaration” adopted at the Pompidou Group’s Ministerial Conference in November 2018, which reaffirms a focus on “human rights as a fundamental cornerstone in drug policy”, in line with the Council of Europe’s core mission.

 Download publication 'Human rights and people who use drugs in the Mediterranean region'

ESPAD - MedSPAD bridge project on the use of school surveys in policy and prevention planning and evaluation

The Pompidou Group launched the 2022 Web Survey to assess use of school surveys in policy and prevention planning and evaluation across more than 40 countries in the European and Mediterranean regions.

The ESPAD-MedSPAD web survey aims to improve understanding of how school surveys are being used in policy and prevention planning and evaluation, with a special focus on the ESPAD and MedSPAD surveys (1). These results will be helpful to improve their use in drug policies, prevention strategies and interventions and public debate.

The ESPAD-MedSPAD web survey, which is voluntary and anonymous, will run for six weeks. The main stakeholders invited to participate in the survey are policy makers, policy experts, experts in prevention and harm-reduction and scientists conducting or using school surveys.

The ESPAD-MedSPAD bridge project is funded by the Council of Europe - Pompidou Group, supported by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) and carried out under the scientific lead of the Italian National Research Council.

The project is aimed to assess for the first time the current and potential use of school survey data in policy and prevention. Its specific objectives are:

  • To gather information on the main and emerging patterns of drug use and risk behaviors and trends in order to set priorities for policy and prevention actions targeting young people;
  • To gather information on needs and priorities to assist with the selection of targeted evidence-based policies;
  • To collect data to help monitor whether existing prevention strategies and programmes are obtaining the intended outcomes or, if challenges still exist, indication that modifications in the strategies and programmes may be needed;
  • To inform the need for and content of capacity building and training for decision makers in charge of developing strategies;
  • To develop prevention actions/policies within schools;
  • To inform public debate and discussion about substance use and risk behaviours, in particular through media interest and uptake.

The main stakeholder groups invited to participate in the survey are policy makers, policy experts, experts in prevention and harm-reduction and scientists conducting or using school surveys.

For more information, please contact the coordinator.

ESPAD-MedSPAD Web Survey webpage

(1) To learn more about ESPAD and MedSPAD

 

 

 

 

*This designation shall not be construed as recognition of a State of Palestine and is without prejudice to the individual positions of Council of Europe member States on this issue.