Prevnet Network joins European Action on Drugs (EAD)

Prevnet President Teuvo Peltoniemi, Senior Vice President Peer van der Kreeft and Secretary Roel Kerssemakers attended the EAD launching event at Brussels on the International Drug Day, June 26, 2009, where Prevnet signed the EAD Commitment. Via EAD, Prevnet gets one more channel to disseminate information on the telematic services of its members. Read the report of the launching event, written by Peer, from here, and the commitment formulation here. We encourage all Prevnet members to promote European Action on Drugs and also make a link at web their site to EAD.

Psychonaut drug information at web

Several Prevnet members, including De Sleutel and A-Clinic Foundation are participating at the Psychonaut research project, where an Early warning system is an objective. Psychonaut assembles and analyses information about new unknown drugs or yet unknown combinations drugs in the Internet. Informal networks like Facebook or web logs are resources for exchange of information. Peer van der Kreeft, Head of prevention of De Sleutel and Prevention teacher at the University College Ghent, takes up the task in the Psychonaut project that the information, once filtered, analysed and checked, is distributed through internet channels to prevention workers but moreover to recreational drug users themselves.

Grant application unsuccessful

In the spring of 2009 we left an application to obtain grant from the EU for the re-activation of the Prevnet Network. Our board member Matej Kosir at the Institute for Research and Development "Utrip" in Slovenia took the laborious task of coordination and writing the application. The grant application was joined by many Prevnet members and got support letters from other important networks and related institutions.

The grant process was very long and there were really many applications competing. It seems that even if Prevnet was positively evaluated, the resources available for grants were so scarce that we are not likely to be in the list of the final winners for the grant.

Unfortunately that reflects also in the Prevnet site update, which are delayed because of the lack of new resources.

But we are waiting for feedback given by the reviewers and will try again to get the grant.

Matej Kosir

Prevnet board member Matej Kosir at the Institute for Research and Development "Utrip" in Slovenia took the laborious task of coordination and writing the application.

The reason is obvious. The use of Internet and mobile services in alcohol and drug prevention and treatment are enlarging. There also now also scientific studies showing the good results of those activities. The research does not only suggest for effectiveness but also report good cost-benefit rates. Moreover people seem often to prefer these kind of services to more traditional approaches. In the future these kind of services are not only useful but absolutely necessary as the cost crises hit social and health care. Further many geographically distant areas will not be able to hire professionals to health centres and social and prevention agencies but will have to rely on digital services instead.

Thus clearly Prevnet network is still needed. We are happy of the feedback and news from many Prevnet members showing that this view is widely shared. The members of the board have been promoting the use of web services in presentations at seminars and working meetings all round the Europe and are reporting great interest. Hopefully the EAD connection will strengthen that work.

The board of Prevnet is planned to meet in the beginning of 2010 to consider other grant sources and other possibilities to promote Prevnet objectives, including arrangement a Prevnet seminar either independently or in connection to some related conference.

Also measures for updating this Prevnet site will planned, including the idea that Prevnet partners would promote its goals also via social networks like Facebook and other social media. To help that we will open a discussion area or blog soon, serving also the EAD connection.

Posted: 12.21.2009

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