Agenda

9:00 - 9:30 Registration and Coffee

9:30 - 9:50 Opening Remarks

Dr. Pavel Bem, Ph.D., Psychiatrist and Head of Family Therapy at the 1st Medical Faculty, Charles University Hospital, member of the Global Commission on Drug Policy and the Government Council for Coordination of Addiction Policy
Katrin Schiffer, Director of the Correlation-European Harm Reduction Network (C-EHRN)

9:50 - 10:10 Keynote Speech

Dr. Linda Montanari, Principal Scientist, European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA)

10:10 - 11:20 Discussion Panel
Fostering a more resilient EU society by tackling the dual mental health and addiction challenge

The discussion panel will focus on building health resilience, particularly in relation to socio-economic determinants of health. The panel will also explore policy efforts at the EU level, such as the ‘Comprehensive approach to mental health’ published by the European Commission in 2023. Moreover, that same year the Spanish Presidency in its Council Conclusions clearly acknowledged the interplay between mental health and addictions. Taking stock of the current state of addiction and mental health policies in the EU, the panel will identify and discuss the remaining gaps to be closed.

Prof. Aileen O’Gorman, Ph.D., Professor of Substance Use and Social Policy, University of the West of Scotland

Prof. Vim van den Brink, Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry and Addiction, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam

Rafaela Rigoni, Ph.D., Head of Research, Correlation-European Harm Reduction Network (C-EHRN)
Mikulas Peksa, Ph.D., Former Member of the European Parliament, Member of the Regulatory Board of the Institute for Mental Health and Addiction Studies (IMHAS), CEO of Cybermindnet

Moderated by Tomas Sadilek, expert in international addiction regulation and policy.

11:20 - 11:50 Presentation of Case Studies

The burden of unhealthy lifestyles

Michael Fanta, Ph.D., Research and lecturer at the Anglo-American University (AAU) and co-founder of the European Economic Competitiveness Institute (EECI)
Dr. Ladislav Kážmér, Ph.D., National Institute of Mental Health, Czechia (NIMH) and Member of the Scientific Board of Institute for Mental Health and Addiction Studies (IMHAS)

11:50 - 12:50 Lunch

12:50 - 14:00 Discussion Panel

Building health resilience and protecting vulnerable groups in the EU

This panel will explore the ways to reduce the public health and economic burden of diseases linked to licit drug use through effective policy measures. It will examine evidence-based regulation and prevention strategies to address dependency. Discussions will aim to find a balance between cultural acceptance and public health protection, with a particular focus on vulnerable groups, especially youth, and on building long-term health resilience.

Dr. Ladislav Kážmér, National Institute of Mental Health, Czechia (NIMH) and Member of the Scientific Board of Institute for Mental Health and Addiction Studies (IMHAS)

Dr. Krzystof Landa, M.D, Former Deputy Minister of Health of Poland and President of the Ukrainian Society of Evidence-Based Health Care

Helena Gherasim, Member of Council of Europe Steering Committee for Human Rights, Head of Association of Providers of Addiction Services (APAS), Member of the Czech Government Council for Drug Policy Coordination

Moderated by Michael Fanta, Ph.D., Research and lecturer and the Anglo-American University (AAU) co-founder of the European Economic Competitiveness Institute (EECI)

14:00 - 14:20 Coffee Break

14:20 - 15:30 Discussion Panel
Evidence-based policy solution to regulating psychomodulatory substances

This panel will explore evidence-based policy solutions to address the rise of new psychoactive compounds, focusing on innovative regulation and public health protection approaches. In particular, the new regulation on psychomodulatory substances in the Czech Republic, enacted in 2024 with harm reduction measures like licensing and age restrictions, offers a pioneering framework for managing these emerging challenges. Experts will share insights on implementing harm reduction strategies alongside public education to enhance public safety, reduce social stigma and criminalisation, and pave the way for smarter regulatory practices across the EU.

Ondrej Kolar, Member of the European Parliament, EPP, Czechia, Member of the Subcommittee on Human Rights
Assoc. Prof. Viktor Mravcik, Head of Science at the Institute for Rational Addiction Policies (IRAP) and Scientific Advisor of the National Drug Coordinator, Office of the Czech Government

Jana Michailidu, Ph.D, Advisor to the Czech Ministry of Justice on Addiction Policy, Alternate Member of Management Board Member of EUDA, and Head of IRAP Expert Center

Alcina Correia, Director of Monitoring and Information Department at the Portuguese General Directorate on Addictive Behaviours and Dependencies (SICAD)

15:30 - 15:45 Closing Remarks

Cyrus Engerer, Former Member of the European Parliament

15:45 - 17:00 Informal Networking

Agenda

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