COPOLAD. Strengthening care programmes, social and economic inclusion and local services for people with drug use problems
Year:
2022 – 2025
Funded by:
Main Objective:
The primary objective is to coordinate international cooperation between Latin America and the European Union in the prevention and intervention of problematic drug use.
Summary:
COPOLAD, funded by the European Union, supports Latin American countries in strengthening, expanding, and enhancing their drug prevention and intervention policies. The programme’s overarching aim is to promote and protect human rights, gender equality, public health, and public security, among other key principles.
Under the framework of the lot awarded to Episteme, technical advice is being provided to various countries. In this edition, Episteme is coordinating, managing, and executing tasks in Mexico, Ecuador, Uruguay, and Colombia.
For Mexico, Episteme is leading the technical advisory commission to develop and implement two technical guides and two toolkits for the prevention and intervention of methamphetamine and fentanyl use, as well as addressing the differentiated needs of sexually diverse populations.
In Ecuador, Episteme is supporting the development of a telephone helpline protocol. This includes extensive training for the professional teams of the 171 helpline, a needs assessment of target groups, and a technical review of pre-existing approved protocols.
In Uruguay, Episteme is tasked with preparing two national plans to address drug use: one focusing on drug use in prisons and another outlining alternative measures. Additionally, Episteme is coordinating the technical and graphic review of the Guide to Addressing Drug Use Among Populations in Situations of Deprivation of Liberty.
In Colombia, technical advice is being provided for the development of harm reduction frameworks in the municipalities of Cúcuta, Pereira, Dosquebradas, Medellín, and Armenia. Furthermore, Episteme is managing a sustainability analysis of the project.
Keywords:
COPOLAD, European Union, Latin America, Mexico, Ecuador, Uruguay, Colombia, inter-institutional cooperation, international cooperation, human rights, technical assessment, technical review, best practices, public health.
