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European Project “I-SEE” for strengthening information exchange between Italy and South East Europe neighboring countries on New Psychoactive Substances

The spread of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) in Europe and worldwide is increasing as the care for consumers’ health. Insufficient number of information about clinical picture of intoxicated persons, their behavior and inability to detect their presence in biological samples are increasing problems on global scale. Data from Croatian Office for Combating Drugs Abuse are showing that Croatia is following the same trends. Therefore, there is an urgent need for new joint form of intervention, better monitoring, exchanging information, as well as prevention steps in order to enable prompt help to intoxicated persons at European level. One of those tools is the new European project I-SEE, granted by the European Commission, involving 5 partners: from Italy, the University of Florence, as coordinator ; from Croatia, the University of Split School of Medicine ; from Slovenia, the National Institute of Public Health, the Ministry of Interior Police and the Association DrogArt. The duration of the project is 2 years (05.01.2015-04.01.2017). The project envisages strengthening information exchange between Italy, Croatia and Slovenia on NPS, to support the development and consolidation of national Early Warning System (EWS) networks, to create a joint mechanism for information exchange, mutual learning and good practice, and to increase information exchange towards Law Enforcement to facilitate activities aimed at early identifying and intercepting NPS supply. I-SEE project is designated as 3-steps approach: - building a network with Law enforcement, NGOs and all health sectors (Slovenia), - developing tools to strengthen NPS information exchange and identification (Italy) by creating a model along for information flow along three EWSs and acquiring new technical and analytical tools enabling laboratories to identify NPS, - building up a clinical network to develop an effective network in clinical settings (Croatia). In order to achieve that, during project period following activities are foreseen or are already implemented: - pilot project on identifying NPS in biological samples in Split- Dalmatia County (Ultra Music Festival, Split, 2014, 2015, 2016), - press Conference in Split (April 1, 2015) and Ljubljana (February 22, 2016), - 3 national educations on NPS (Split, May 20, 2015 ; Sibenik, November 28, 2015 ; Split, June 27, 2016), - study visit to Italy (December 14-18, 2015), - setting up a clinical network of national EWS in formal and operational sense, - establishing a reference center of the national EWS clinical network , - organized and improved monitoring system of NPS intoxications (standardized Worksheet, Algorithm – case of events following NPS intoxications), - definition of a procedure for biological samples analysis. Expected results in Croatia: - Establishing effective clinical- toxicology network of the national EWS, - Development of national database of NPS intoxication cases, - Improving health professionals knowledge on NPS and medical care of intoxicated persons, - Establishing information exchange with national EWSs in neighbouring countries. CONCLUSIONS The I–SEE project represents an added value for the whole EU by strengthening information exchange on NPS among neighbouring countries, improving effectiveness of the European EWSs, increasing availability of information about NPS phenomenon, improving health professionals knowledge and expertise in managing NPS intoxications, as well as acquisition of knowledge and experience in collection, processing biological samples and NPS identification.

New Psychoactive Substances ; Early Warning System ; information exchange

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