How to improve quality of treatment services: the perspectives of Pompidou Group

1. How to improve quality of treatment services:the perspectives of Pompidou Group Piotr Jabłonski Director of National Bureau for Drug Prevention Vilnius, October 18,2007

2. Content of the presentation • Council of Europe • Pompidou Group • Treatment Platform • Expert Group opinious and recommendations on the quality of treatment and care of drug users

3. Council of Europe • Established in 1949 • The eldest political organisation on continent • Assambles 47 countries • Observers: Japan, Canada, Mexico, USA, Vatican

4. Activity aims: • Protecting human rights • Strenghtening parliamentary democracy and the rule of law • Establishing cooperation of continental range in social and legal practice of member’s countries • Promoting the European concious of identity leaning on common values

5. Warsaw Declaration (2005) • Promoting common, basic values: - human rights, the rule of law, democracy • Strenghtening safety citizens of Europe: - prevention of terrorism, organized crime, human trading • Establishing international cooperation

6. Pompidou Group • the Cooperation Group to Combat Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking of Drugs • The intergovernmental body • Established in 1971 at the suggestion of the French President George Pompidou • initialy: informed forum establish by 7 countries (France, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherland, United Kingdom) sharing their experience of drug abuse prevention and drug trafficking

7. in 1980 the Group was incorporated into the institutional framework of the Council of Europe • today: Pompidou Group is part of Directorate General of Social Cohesion • Today, 35 countries are the member of the Pompidou Group • in 1990, technical cooperation has been extended to countries of central and eastern Europe which are not members of the Group

8. Pompidou Group mission • the Pompidou Group vital mission is to contribute to the development of multidisciplinary, innovative, effective and evidence – based drug policies in its member states • the Pompidou Group supports the link between policy, practice and science • the Pompidou Group focuses especially on conditions of local implementation of drugs programmes

9. Pompidou Group provides a multidisciplinary forum at the wilder European level enabling policy makers, professionals and research to discuss and exchange information and ideas on the whole range a drug problems • The non – binding nature of the Group provides with the opportunity for open and politically non – biding discussion between all Pompidou Group stakeholders • Bridging role of Pompidou Group for both European Union and non European Union countries and for neighbouring countries in the Mediterranean region (Algieria, Tunisia, Maroco) • Focus on ethical issues with regard to public policy, public health, social cohesion, penal policy.

10. Organization structure • The Ministerial Conference – the political authority of the Pompidou Group • Pompidou Group Presidency • Permanent Correspondents • Bureau • Platforms • Secretariat

11. Pompidou Group Platforms • Main functions of the Platform are to introduce practitioners knowledge and experience into the policy making process and to identification and promotion of examples of good practices in successful implementation of policies • Work Program for period 2007 – 2010 comprises 6 platforms • prevention • treatment • criminal justice and regulatory issues • airports • the research • the ethics and human rights • multisectoral coordination

12. Platform participant are nominated by the Member States (practically by Permanent Correspondents) • Platforms provide for consideration by Permanent Correspondents and, ultimately, Ministers; information about: current experience, recent developments, trends, patterns, barriers and challenges in practice • Each platform is managed by Coordinator

13. Treatment Platform • The aims of Expert Forum on Treatment are to signal problems in day – to – day practice, promote standards identify priorities and need • To improve the treatment and care of specific group • To adapt treatment to new trends, substances and patterns of consumption • To assess the results of different modalities of consumption • To evaluate risk reduction interventions and measures to reduce harm to society

14. Thematic objectives with regard to improve quality • To match the patient need with treatment system and offer • To facilitate the accessibility to treatment by obtaining more flexibility of existing services for drug users • To take into account the role of alcohol as a main component in poly – drug use • To involve and support families (especially those related to multi – drug consumption)

15. To promote evaluation of effectiveness and cost efficiency of different treatment modalities • To promote the evidence – based treatment methods • To improve the skills of professionals working „on the ground” • To highlight the specific therapy problems link to HIV/AIDS risk and infection • To ensure the continuity of treatment including therapy in prison

16. With regard to adapting treatment to involving patterns of drug consumption Pompidou Group signal the following needs: • The rigidity of care structure facing the new patterns of consumption • The necessity to adapt current care modalities and approaches • The requirement to improve the specific training for professionals

17. To consider essential role of providing support for self – help group for drug users and their families • To promote and develop the involvement of general Practitioners and other medical doctors, especially psychiatrists in the treatment and care of drug users • The needs of „holistic” view of the therapy, particularly in relations to associated physical and psychiatric diseases

18. Special topic – Treatment of young drug usersWith regards to young drug consumers Pompidou Group points out followingfeatures: • Increase in the general consumption of drug among young people and stabilization of the more serious drug – related health problems • Growth in cannabis use – solely or associated to alcohol to other illegal drugs • Lack of care programmes and services specially adapted to young people

19. Experts propose • To distinguish two groups of young drug users with different requirements: those between the ages of 14 and 20 years and those between 21 and 25 years • Treatment modalities should be designed in a different ways according to the type of client (occasional consumers, problematic drug users addicts) • A particular effort to assess risk situation and reach occasional drug users by the improvement of communication skills must be deployed

20. The cooperation between care structures, education and social services should be improved • Continuity of therapy and mid and long – term follow – up should be provided • The profiles and communication skills of therapists and other professionals should be developed taking into account the complexity of young clients’ requirements • The care programmes should include only realistic and pragmatic approaches and strategies • Prior to the choice of the treatment modality of young drug user a clear definition of its goals should be clarified

21. Mile stones of global care practice (terminology) • Definitions – common language, common understanding • Epidemiological basis – monitoring systems on various levels: local, regional, national, international • Context of other adolescent problems • Risk and protective factors • Contact with young people • Screening and assessment • Treatment and planning • Comorbiality

22. Final remarks Linking policy, practice and science Pompidou Group promotes evidance – based approaches, effective law enforcements and judicial measures, innovative drug prevention and drug treatment models as well as ethical and human rights issues.