30 recommendations from civil society for an EU Drugs Strategy that is effective, inclusive and grounded in reality

The Civil Society Forum on Drugs (CSFD) puts forward 30 key recommendations to ensure that the next EU Drugs Strategy is not only a political statement but a truly effective tool for action. These recommendations call for meaningful civil society involvement, a balanced approach across the three pillars of drug policy, and firm commitment to equity, inclusion, and human rights at both European and global levels.

From words to action: accountability and civil society involvement

• Meaningful and continuous civil society involvement in all phases of the Strategy, with full transparency and access to draft texts.
• Ensure people with lived and living experience are central in governance and planning.
• Sustainable civil society funding.
• Recognise the CSFD as the official EU civil society mechanism on drug policy.
• SMART indicators with clearly defined responsibilities.

A balanced strategy for real impact

Prevention, treatment and recovery

• Evidence-based prevention approaches, free from moralising narratives.
• Accessible, voluntary, comprehensive, person-centred treatment and recovery services.
• Engage actors beyond health, and build their capacity in prevention.
• Support for the EUPC and UN Standards: Train local decision-makers and support civil society’s role in implementation.
• Recognise stigma as a barrier to care.

Harm reduction at the core of drug policy

• Scale up Naloxone, DCRs, OST, drug checking, and digital tools.
• Recognise harm reduction as part of public health systems and promote continuum of services.
• Establish EU-wide standards for harm reduction, prevention, and care.
• Redirect funds from punitive approaches to evidence-based health and harm reduction services.

Refocusing the fight: tackling organised crime

• Addressing structural determinants and community resilience: Tackle the root causes of trafficking and strengthen local responses.
• Prevent discriminatory policing and uphold fundamental rights.
• Distinction between use and organised crime: Separate low-level offences from trafficking in law and policy.
• Exploration of alternative approaches: Encourage Member States to test decriminalisation of drugs use.
• Proportional sanctions and reparative justice: Replace punishment with restorative, community-based alternatives.

Equity, inclusion and coherence

• Promote gender- and age-sensitive policies: Design responses that reflect the different needs of people across gender and life stages.
• Apply a gender lens throughout the Strategy’s design and delivery.
• Embed trauma-informed care and address gender-based violence.
• Address overlapping forms of discrimination to ensure fairness.
• Adopt a child-centred approach in both policy and service provision.
• Ensure access to universal health and social care for migrants, regardless of status.
• Uphold international human rights frameworks.

Upholding EU values in global drugs policy

• Enshrine the EU’s unified voice on drug policy grounded in rights and evidence.
• Promote international conventions and UN system positions at global level.
• Champion human rights and civil society involvement in international forums.
• Align EU drug policy with the SDGs, Global AIDS Strategy, and human rights instruments.