{"id":20359,"date":"2025-11-30T15:13:32","date_gmt":"2025-11-30T14:13:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/?p=20359"},"modified":"2025-12-07T18:02:24","modified_gmt":"2025-12-07T17:02:24","slug":"new-threat-assessment-system-launched-to-strengthen-europes-response-to-drug-related-threats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/2025\/11\/new-threat-assessment-system-launched-to-strengthen-europes-response-to-drug-related-threats\/","title":{"rendered":"New threat assessment system launched to strengthen Europe\u2019s response to drug-related threats"},"content":{"rendered":"<header id=\"header\">\n<div class=\"header-inner container-sm\">\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\"><a class=\"site-logo d-block align-self-center\" title=\"Home\" href=\"https:\/\/www.euda.europa.eu\/index_en\" rel=\"home\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.euda.europa.eu\/themes\/custom\/euda\/logo.svg\" alt=\"Home\" width=\"169\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"sr-only\">\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: #0000ff;\">www.euda.europa.eu<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"block-dropdown-language-language-interface\" class=\"block block-dropdown-language block-dropdown-languagelanguage-interface\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div id=\"searchWrapper\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<div class=\"d-none d-md-block\">\n<div class=\"field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__items\">\n<div class=\"duckduckgo search\">\n<form class=\"no-menu\" action=\"https:\/\/duckduckgo.com\/\" name=\"x\" data-anti-phishing-live-protection=\"1764511666252\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: #0000ff;\">From EUDA, Lisbon &#8211; <time class=\"datetime\" datetime=\"2025-11-26T09:30:00+00:00\">26.11.2025<\/time><\/span><\/form>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"container\" data-is-search-page=\"false\">\n<div class=\"row gx-lg-5\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"region region-content\">\n<div id=\"block-system-main-block\" class=\"block block-system block-system-main-block\">\n<div class=\"row align-items-xl-start gx-lg-5\">\n<div id=\"content\" class=\"content col-12 col-xl-10 order-xl-1\" data-pdf=\"pdf-content-default\">\n<article class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8 col-xxl-9 mb-5 mb-xl-0 mb-lg-0\" data-pdf-col=\"12\">\n<div class=\"content-item\">\n<div class=\"field field--name-field-news-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__items\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: #0000ff;\">The European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) today launched the new\u00a0EUDA Health and Security Threat Assessment System\u00a0(ETAS), designed to strengthen Europe\u2019s preparedness for serious and emerging drug-related threats and to support coordinated responses. Foreseen under the\u00a0EUDA regulation, the service was unveiled at the meeting of the Heads of\u00a0Reitox national focal points\u00a0(NFPs), taking place this week in Lisbon, bringing together representatives from across Europe.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: #0000ff;\">ETAS will help EU Member States identify, assess and respond to drug-related health and security threats linked to drug markets, illicit substances and changing patterns of use. The system provides structured, evidence-based assessments to support timely decisions on mitigation, early preparedness and strategic responses at national and EU level.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: #0000ff;\">As a core component of the EUDA\u2019s wider preparedness framework, ETAS operates in close coordination with the\u00a0European Drug Alert System\u00a0(EDAS), the\u00a0EU Early Warning System on new psychoactive substances\u00a0and the\u00a0Network of forensic and toxicological laboratories. Together, these services combine early warning, rapid alerts and in-depth assessments, reinforcing Europe\u2019s capacity to detect and respond to fast-evolving drug-related risks.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: #0000ff;\">Threat assessments can be triggered by requests from an EU Member State or the European Commission or when signals from the EUDA\u2019s monitoring, alert and early warning systems indicate that a coordinated response may be needed. Member State requests are submitted via the EUDA Management Board member or through the national focal point. The NFPs act as key contact points for ETAS and contribute throughout the assessment process.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: #0000ff;\">Drawing on data from health, law enforcement and laboratory sources, as well as expert input from national authorities, ETAS delivers practical options for action, tailored to different threats.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: #0000ff;\">The first assessments under the new system are focusing on highly potent synthetic opioids and the availability and harms of crack cocaine in the EU. These are being carried out in close cooperation with the countries concerned. A\u00a0pilot threat assessment, published in June 2025, examined the evolving presence and impact of highly potent synthetic opioids (particularly \u2018nitazenes\u2019 and carfentanil) in the Baltic States.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: #0000ff;\">These early cases illustrate how the new system will support Member States and EU institutions in turning evidence into concrete measures on the ground, contributing to a safer and more resilient Europe.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"framework\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: #0000ff;\">EUDA and national focal points discuss new partnership framework<\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: #0000ff;\">A central issue at this week\u2019s meeting is the \u2018Reitox Alliance\u2019, a new partnership framework between the EUDA and the NFPs. Building on decades of shared experience, the alliance aims to strengthen cooperation, enhance preparedness and ensure a coordinated European response to emerging drug-related challenges.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: #0000ff;\">The new operating framework, set for adoption by the Management Board next month, will replace the previous Reitox operating framework, functioning since 2003. The alliance aligns the network\u2019s activities with the EUDA\u2019s updated mandate and promotes mutual support, capacity building and innovation among Member States.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: #0000ff;\">The meeting will also focus on policy and institutional updates, scientific projects, national reporting, communication activities and planning for 2026. Topics include cannabis policy, prisons and international cooperation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: #0000ff;\">This is the last Reitox meeting under the current\u00a0<b>Executive Director, Alexis Goosdeel<\/b>\u00a0whose mandate ends on 31 December this year. Speaking at the event, Mr Goosdeel said: \u2018The new Reitox Alliance will mark a significant step forward in how we work together as a European network, and will give us a stronger, more coordinated platform for tackling the complex drug challenges we face. ETAS is just one example of how this renewed partnership can translate shared expertise into concrete, operational services that help Member States anticipate threats and act quickly. As I conclude my mandate, I am proud of what we have achieved together and confident that this enhanced cooperation will support Europe\u2019s preparedness for years to come.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: #0000ff;\">Source: https:\/\/www.euda.europa.eu\/news\/2025\/new-threat-assessment-system-launched-strengthen-eu-response-drug-related-threats_en<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>www.euda.europa.eu From EUDA, Lisbon &#8211; 26.11.2025 &nbsp; The European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) today launched the new\u00a0EUDA Health and Security Threat Assessment System\u00a0(ETAS), designed to strengthen Europe\u2019s preparedness for serious and emerging drug-related threats and to support coordinated responses. Foreseen under the\u00a0EUDA regulation, the service was unveiled at the meeting of the Heads of\u00a0Reitox national [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20,40,139],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20359","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-others","category-prevention-research","category-strategy-and-policy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20359","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20359"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20359\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20382,"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20359\/revisions\/20382"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20359"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20359"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20359"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}