THIS IS EUFAS

The purpose of EUFAS, founded in 2010, is to promote education and advances in knowledge and understanding in the field of addiction in all European countries, for the non-profit protection of health. ‘Addiction’ comprises all mental disorders related to the use of psychoactive substances and non-substance habit-forming products (such as gambling).

    • Improve addiction care in European countries

    • Improve prevention measures both on a national as well as a European level

    • Support those European countries whose prevention and treatment systems may be less developed

    • Influence the allocation of financial resources for addiction research on a national as well as a European level

    • Reinforce addiction research in Europe

    • Improve and harmonise prevention and treatment

    • Suggest policies based on evidence

Welcome to the website for the European Federation of Addiction Societies (EUFAS). Research in the field of addictive behaviors benefits not only from the interdisciplinary collaboration of professionals but also from networking across borders. The EUFAS is a young European non-profit federation aiming to promote the exchange of knowledge and experiences between national and European associations. EUFAS’s first mission is to support and conduct research across a broad range of disciplines. The second is ensuring the rapid and effective dissemination and use of the results of that research to significantly improve prevention and treatment and to inform policy as it relates to drug abuse and addiction.

Together we can improve the knowledge about substance use disorders and contribute to a better provision of care.

Professor Collin Drummond (MD, PhD)

PRESIDENT’S WELCOME

COMMITTEE

  • Colin Drummond

    President (UK)

  • Jørgen G. Bramness

    FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT (NO)

  • Emanuele Scafato

    SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT (IT)

  • Benjamin Rolland

    SECRETARY GENERAL (FR)

  • Frieder Wurst

    TREASURER (AU)

  • Geert Dom

    IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT (BE)

  • Marcin Wojnar

    EC MEMBER WITHOUT PORTOFOLIO (PL)

  • Cristina Ribeiro

    EC MEMBER WITHOUT PORTOFOLIO (PT)

  • Hanne Tønnesen

    EC MEMBER WITHOUT PORTOFOLIO (SE)

  • Gerardo Florez

    EC MEMBER WITHOUT PORTOFOLIO (ES)

  • Karen D Ersche

    EC MEMBER (Ex OFFICIO AS EDITOR IN CHIEF OF EAR) (UK/DE)

  • Antoni Gual

    PERMANENT ADVISOR AND GUEST IN THE EC (ES)

  • Karl Mann

    PERMANENT ADVISOR AND GUEST IN THE EC (DE)

BACKGROUND

The “burden of disease study” clearly outlines the significant impact of addictive behaviours on public health. While tobacco smoking is number one, alcohol consumption is the second top contributor in Europe and other developed regions (Global Health Risks Report, WHO 2009). The European Brain Council estimates there are 37 million cases of addiction in the EU (including Norway, Switzerland, and Iceland), costing around 110 billion Euros annually, including 53 billion Euros related to crime from alcohol and drug use (Andlin-Sobocki & Rehm, 2005).

Fundings for addiction research in Europe are in sharp contrast to these estimates, with no dedicated chapter in framework programs and only a few small projects funded. Despite similarities in addictive behaviours across Europe, treatment approaches and national systems vary significantly. Countries would highly benefit from sharing knowledge and practices. Simple benchmarking processes could help address key questions about treatment availability, caregiver organisation, preventive measures, and ethical standards, potentially improving care for those affected and reducing the costs of addiction in Europe.