The European Network of Drug Consumption Rooms [ENDCR] has elected the members of its Core Group! The Core Group comprises the Chairs of the different Work Groups, and its role is to strengthen the overall Network’s policy, strategic planning and activities.

Currently, the ENDCR counts the following Work Groups:

• WG1 Monitoring & Data Collection
• WG2 Training & Capacity Building
• WG3 Evaluation
• WG4 Networking and Advocacy

Five organisations that demonstrated outstanding qualifications, experiences and dedication were elected as members of the Core Group, to which they will all contribute. These are:

Ares do Pinhal | Portugal

Currently, Ares do Pinhal manage several harm reduction projects. These include a drug consumption room, access to screenings for communicable diseases, basic hygiene services, psychosocial support, wider healthcare, and a low-threshold methadone outpatient program. Additionally, they operate an emergency shelter.

Associació Benestar i Desenvolupament (ABD) | Spain

The ABD Group strives to defend people’s rights and personal autonomy in situations of social vulnerability, supporting them through different moments of their vital trajectories and taking action within their communities to promote social coexistence. Among other harm reduction projects, the ABD Group hosts Sala Baluard, a Drug Consumption Room in Barcelona.

Association Gaïa Paris | France

Gaïa Paris is an association that aims to improve the health of people who use drugs in Paris through services such as needle distribution, opioid agonist treatment, a drug consumption room, a mobile awareness and screening service for communicable diseases and liver fibrosis, and an integration programme.

CNDS Abrigado | Luxembourg

Abrigado is an organisation offering low-threshold health and social support to people who use drugs in Luxembourg. Their services include a drug consumption room, needle exchange programs, day centres, healthcare services, and emergency shelters.

Prindsen Reception Centre | Norway

The Prindsen Reception Centre is a low-threshold health and social care service that aims to prevent harm and offer support based on individual needs to people who use drugs. The centre hosts a drug consumption room and provides counselling, sterile harm reduction equipment, and other healthcare and support services.

The next steps include the organisation of the first meeting of the newly established Core Group, in which the responsibilities of WG Chairs will be distributed among the elected organisations.

[The European Network of Drug Consumption Rooms [ENDCR] is a membership-based civil society platform uniting organisations operating or planning to implement a Drug Consumption Room [DCR] in Europe. Its goal is to enhance the availability, accessibility and quality of these services. Hosted and coordinated by Correlation – European Harm Reduction Network [C-EHRN], the ENDCR is governed by a Core Group and channels its activities through various thematic Work Groups.]