IMPRESA – Implementing Methamphetamine Prevention Strategies into Action

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Funding scheme: JUST-2019-AG-DRUGS: SUPPORTING INITIATIVES IN THE FIELD OF DRUGS POLICY (European Commission JUSTICE PROGRAMME)

Implementation Period: 01.01.2021 – 30.06.2023

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International Consortium:

Center for Interdisciplinary Addiction Research at the University of Hamburg (Germany, coordinating institution of the consortium)
Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice (Slovak Republic)
Charles University (Czech Republic)
Maria Grzegorzewska University (Poland)
Laboratory of Research and Social Initiatives, Ltd (Poland)
Republican Center for Addictive Disorders (Lithuania)

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Participating staff at the Faculty of Arts, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice:

Faculty of Arts is one of the beneficiaries of the project. It participates in the implementation of project tasks and activities through its employees at the Department of Educational Psychology and Psychology of Health and the Department of Social Work.

prof. PhDr. Oľga Orosová, CSc. (Principal Investigator, Department of Educational Psychology and Psychology of Health of the Faculty of Arts at UPJŠ)
Mgr. Jozef Benka, PhD. et PhD. (Deputy of the Principal Investigator at UPJŠ, Department of Educational Psychology and Psychology of Health of the Faculty of Arts at UPJŠ)
Mgr. Lucia Barbierik, PhD. (Department of Educational Psychology and Psychology of Health of the Faculty of Arts at UPJŠ)
Assoc. Prof. Beáta Gajdošová, PhD. (Department of Educational Psychology and Psychology of Health of the Faculty of Arts at UPJŠ)
PhDr. Anna Janovská, PhD. (Department of Educational Psychology and Psychology of Health of the Faculty of Arts at UPJŠ)
Mgr. Ondrej Kalina, PhD. (Work package 4 leader – Implementation of tailored prevention intervention packages, Department of Educational Psychology and Psychology of Health of the Faculty of Arts at UPJŠ)
Assoc. Prof. Vladimír Lichner, PhD. (Department of Social Work of the Faculty of Arts at UPJŠ)
Mgr. Katarína Hajduková (Project Manager, Faculty of Arts at UPJŠ)
Mgr. Marta Dobrowolska Kulanová, PhD. (Department of Educational Psychology and Psychology of Health of the Faculty of Arts at UPJŠ, maternity leave)

The project is focused on the selection and implementation of specific intervention packages aimed at preventing methamphetamine use in selected European cities. At the level of individual pilot cities, the most appropriate methamphetamine prevention strategy will be developed according to specific local needs and resources and based on the results of mapping of all stakeholders. The intervention strategy will then be implemented at the local level.

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Abstract:

This multidisciplinary, translational project aims to provide an in-depth understanding of the translation processes of best-practice prevention of methamphetamine use. It therefore supports the DG JUSTICE work programme priority of “practical application of drug-related research, and, in particular, addiction research with a view of addressing current challenges and new threats”. Furthermore it addresses action no. 29b of the EU Action Plan on Drugs 2017-2020 aiming to “strengthen the cooperation to tackle the rising trend of stimulant addiction, in particular methamphetamine, between relevant government bodies and the NGO sector, focusing on creating and sharing best practices in preventing the spread from local epidemics”. In order to reduce methamphetamine related harm across Europe and to contribute to preventing a further spread of the methamphetamine epidemic, the project will provide an effective knowledge transfer model for all affected regions in the EU by a) synthesising the latest evidence on methamphetamine use prevention for the selection of the most adequate evidence-based prevention strategies, b) establishing multi-stakeholder partnerships (incl. local authorities, researchers and civil society stakeholders, e.g. service providers and users) in five highly affected EU cities in Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, Poland and Lithuania to drive the design, implementation and assessment of intervention packages to prevent methamphetamine use, c) tailoring and implementing best practice strategies to prevent methamphetamine use in the five EU pilot cities and d) evaluating translation processes and public health impact of the tailored intervention packages and disseminating results and guidance.

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Project partners:

Centre for Educational and Psychological Counselling and Prevention (CPPPaP), Zuzkin park 10, Košice
Centre for Family Restoration, NGO, Košice
M.R. Štefánik Grammar School, Košice
Cinefil, Civic Association – Kino Úsmev, Košice
Josef Adamovič Conservatory, Košice
K 13 – Košice Cultural Centres
Psychosocial Centre, Košice

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Experts:

Mgr. Peter Getlík, PhD. – media expert (Department of Slovak Studies, Slavonic Philologies, and Communication of the Faculty of Arts at UPJŠ)
PhDr. Marián Gladiš, PhD. – media expert (Department of Slovak Studies, Slavonic Philologies, and Communication of the Faculty of Arts at UPJŠ)
PhDr. Anna Jenčová, PhD. – expert in counseling psychology (Technical University in Košice)
PhDr. Barbora Kuchárová, PhD., MBA – expert in primary prevention at transnational level (Executive Director of Prima, civic association)
Mgr. Eva Sitáková  – expert in psychological services in a treatment center (Psychiatric Treatment Center, Plešivec)
Mgr. Ľubomír Soľák – expert in social counselling, terrain social work, lecturing in the field of secondary and indicated prevention of substance abuse  (Psychosocial Centre, Košice)
Assoc. Prof. Dušan Šlosár, PhD. – expert in social and legal proceedings (Department of Social Work of the Faculty of Arts at UPJŠ)
Mgr. Igor Takáč – expert in terrain social work with drug users (Implementation Agency of the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family of the Slovak Republic, in the past, he worked in the social work with injecting drug users through harm-reduction principles)
Mgr. Vesna Tomašik – expert in the field of secondary prevention, harm-reduction and streetwork (STORM Association, Nitra)
PhDr. Martina Trebuňáková – expert in counselling psychology and risk behaviour prevention in children, adolescents and young adults (CPPPaP Zuzkin park 10, Košice)
Mgr. Veronika Zibrinyiová, PhD. – expert in counseling psychology (Director of University Counselling Center, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice)

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Project Bulletin (February 2022)

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Contact:

katarina.hajdukova@upjs.sk

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This project has received co-funding from the European Union’s Justice Programme – Drug Policy Initiatives under the grant agreement No 957715.

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