The key role of local authorities dealing with drug addiction and uses Traffic and consumption of licit and illicit drugs are highly significant and sensitive issues for urban security, public health and social cohesion at the local level. Local and regional authorities are at the forefront when it comes to tackling the issue but but do not have the means and the best possible conditions to do so. Cooperation with national and European levels of government remains too often underdeveloped. National legislations limit their options. Local authorities must be involved in policy making at European and international level.
Efus wishes to reaffirm the key role of local authorities to develop counter-strategies and encourage them to realise the ambitions expressed by the European Union in the European Drug Strategy 2013-2020 and the relating EU Action Plan on Drugs 2017-2020.
Local and regional multi-Agency partnerships to foster harm reduction
Local authorities are particularly well placed to coordinate and lead the co-production of policies. Drug policy have to combine public health and public security approaches. Municipal departments and services working on both fields must cooperate closely. A wide variety of stakeholders at the local level must be involved (police forces, the judicial system, civil society organisations, health service providers and the educational sector). Risk reduction policy must be designed with pragmatism: by taking into account the specific needs of each territory, by seeking the active participation of local residents end by protecting the fundamental rights of all concerned groups and individuals.
Supervised drug consumption facilities (SDCF) as a tool to promote urban security
For Efus, SDCFs have proved to be an effective tool to foster public health and public security at the local level for many Efus member municipalities and beyond. They help to prevent drug related deaths, the transmission of viruses such as HIV and Hepatitis C, and reduce public nuisances. They also serve as a first step for highly marginalised populations to meet social and medical services. They do not not encourage drug use. Ideological debates around SDCFs are not helpful and should give way to thorough assessments of local needs and conditions for success as well as scientific evaluations of modes of operation and impacts.
Local authorities have a key role to play in accompanying SDCFs and ensuring their effective management and acceptance in the local community but need better support and advice on how to manage an SDCF as well as on how to monitor and assess their impact. National legislations should, where necessary, be adapted so as to allow local governments to design the strategy that fits the needs and conditions in their territory.
