title: A critical evaluation of the European Drug Strategy: has it brought added value to drug policy making at the national level?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The current European Drug Strategy (EDS) and attendant Action Plan come to an end this year signalling a period of evaluation of and reflection on whether they have achieved their aims and objectives.
  
  
  METHODS
  This opinion based article seeks to add a critical and academic evaluation to the mix, which is focused on determining the extent to which the European drug policy has brought added value to drug policy that is formulated at the national level, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity. The analysis presented here examines the five key areas defined by the EDS: coordination, demand reduction, supply reduction, international cooperation and information, research and evaluation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It suggests that, while clear benefits have been brought in the realm of information, research and evaluation and the development of harm reduction measures, there is still significant progress yet to be made.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It finds that neither the Commission's dedication to increasing focus on law-enforcement methods, nor the Council's prescription for 'more of the same' are particularly beneficial to the development of European drug policy. Instead, the priorities should be building on areas where added value has been engendered and on allowing diversity in policy to flourish.
authors.affiliation: University of Kent, School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research, Cornwallis North East, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NF, United Kingdom. c.chatwin@kent.ac.uk
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chatwin
mesh_terms: D005060:Europe; D040261:Harm Reduction; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D035846:Law Enforcement; D007880:Legislation, Drug / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012106:Research / Q000458:organization & administration