Visit by delegation from Albania

On 19 May, ICAD, I.P. received a delegation from Albania, made up of the Deputy Minister of Health, the Deputy Minister of the Interior, members of the National Cannabis Agency and police officials.

The purpose of the visit was to exchange experiences with the Albanian national authorities regarding the processes for setting up a National Drugs Observatory, strengthening the Early Warning System for New Psychoactive Substances, as well as the policy for controlling medicinal cannabis.

During the meeting, which took place on the premises of ICAD, I.P., in Lisbon, the president of the Board of Directors of the Institute for Behaviour and Addictions, João Goulão, gave a presentation on Portugal's DAC policy, including the national coordination structure, the National Plan for the Reduction of Addictive Behaviours and Addictions, as well as the main measures implemented in terms of prevention, treatment, harm reduction and social reintegration.

The coordinator of the International Relations and Cooperation Office, Ana Sofia Santos, and Óscar Duarte, from the same office, presented the legal framework and activities carried out by the EUDA National Focal Point, the national information collection system, as well as the National Early Warning Mechanism on New Psychoactive Substances.

The international delegation also had the opportunity to meet with INFARMED about the legal framework and implementation of the control system for medicinal cannabis activities.

The visit took place as part of TAIEX (Technical Assistance and Information Exchange), the European Commission's technical assistance programme that supports non-EU countries in the European accession process, in collaboration with the European Union Agency on Drugs (EUDA).