On May 14th, the Knowmad Institut was honored to participate in a crucial event organized by the Police, Treatment, and Community Collaborative (PTACC) at the prestigious House of Lords in the UK Parliament. This international gathering brought together leaders and experts from various organizations dedicated to drug policies, including Villa Maraini and the C4 Foundation.

A Multidisciplinary and Global Event

The event was a call to action, highlighting the urgent and escalating threat of synthetic drugs. It underscored the imperative need for integrated strategies encompassing law enforcement, public health, and human rights, urging all participants to participate in this critical issue.

Key Presentation  and Debate 

Thom Browne, CEO of the Colombo Plan, presented an exhaustive analysis of the emerging threats and changes in synthetic drugs worldwide. The presentation emphasized the importance of early intervention and the expansion of out-of-court resolution schemes to support and educate individuals, enabling them to make informed decisions. The crucial role of naloxone, a medication that reverses opioid overdoses, was highlighted, noting its expanding access and lifesaving impact. Read more about this presentation here.

International Collaboration and Action Proposals

During the event, attendees discussed collaborative strategies to address this crisis, strengthened relationships, and reviewed awareness initiatives vital to the global response to the synthetic drug threat. In a subsequent statement, Druglink Ltd. emphasized the importance of these strategies and the need for more events and information exchange initiatives to keep the community informed and avoid dangerous delays in responding to this growing threat.

We express our deepest gratitude to PTACC UK and Lord Mancroft for inviting and organizing this event and all the partners and friends who made this critical meeting possible. At the Knowmad Institut, we remain committed to promoting science-based and human rights-oriented policies to address the global challenges of synthetic drugs.