The Government Plan for Combating Drugs and Addictive Behaviours 2013-17 addresses the use of illicit and licit substances (narcotics, alcohol, tobacco, psychotropic medicines and new synthetic products), as well as non-substance-related addictive behaviours (gambling, gaming, doping).
It has three main priorities: (i) promoting prevention, care and risk reduction; (ii) stepping up the fight against trafficking; (iii) improving the application of the law; (iv) basing policies for combating drugs and addictive behaviours on research and evaluation studies; and (v) reinforcing coordination at the national and international levels.
Treatment and Recovery Services
Treatment for drug users is the responsibility of the regional and local authorities.
Drug treatment has been financed by the social security system since 2003.
Two systems are involved in drug treatment: a specialised addiction treatment system and a general care system.
Most of the 100 sub-regional administrative areas have at least one CSAPA: centres managed by NGOs that provide outpatient and inpatient care, as well as care for prison inmates. In such settings, both pharmacologically assisted and psychosocial treatments are provided.
There are also eight ‘drug-free’ therapeutic communities. These operate separately from CSAPAs.
Since 2005, more than 500 services for young drug users have been established. These provide early intervention and psychological outpatient care.
OST has been the main treatment for opioid users for the last 20 or so years.
Methadone and high-dose buprenorphine (HDB) are used for OST. In
rare cases, morphine sulphate is used.
GPs are heavily involved in HDB and methadone treatment. However, methadone treatment can only be started in specialised centres or in hospitals. Currently, there is debate about this restriction.
The Government Plan for Combating Drugs and Addictive Behaviours 2013-17 addresses the use of illicit and licit substances (narcotics, alcohol, tobacco, psychotropic medicines and new synthetic products), as well as non-substance-related addictive behaviours (gambling, gaming, doping).
It has three main priorities: (i) promoting prevention, care and risk reduction; (ii) stepping up the fight against trafficking; (iii) improving the application of the law; (iv) basing policies for combating drugs and addictive behaviours on research and evaluation studies; and (v) reinforcing coordination at the national and international levels.
Prevention Services
The French prevention policy encompasses all psychoactive substances, both illicit and licit, and other forms of addictive behaviours.
It aims to prevent experimentation, delay it, or prevent and limit the use of these substances.
Prevention interventions encompass a wide range of approaches, including environmental and selective, which are complementary.
The current French Government anti-drug plan priorities drug use prevention among young people, especially those in contact with a juvenile court system; pregnant women and female drug users; and people who are geographically or socially marginalised from the care system.
Environmental strategies on alcohol and tobacco are well developed and have substantial political support.
Universal prevention is mostly carried out in secondary schools. School communities are involved in the coordination and implementation. Outsider actors, such as NGOs or law enforcement, contribute where required.
The National Institute for Prevention and Health Education (INPES) issued best practice guidelines for addressing health and risky behaviours in school settings. Use is encouraged but not compulsory.
The main focus of the school-based prevention activities is to develop students’ individual and social skills, enabling them to resist drug use.
Drug prevention is also recommended for secondary and higher educational settings.
Youth counselling centres carry out community-based prevention.
Educators working at recreational centres for children and teenagers are trained to address addictive behaviours and risky sexual practices through raising awareness.
Prevention initiatives for psychoactive substance use in recreational settings are used in some large cities and sometimes implemented at large music festivals or sporting events.
Selective prevention is mainly the responsibility of specialised NGOs commonly operating outside of the school setting.
It is rare for law enforcement services to deliver selective prevention activities.