On December 16, 2024, a national meeting titled “Collective Reflection on the Future of Drug Policy in the Republic of Moldova” was organized with support from ECECACD, the Alliance for Public Health, and the Secretariat of the National Commission on Drugs in Moldova, under the Ministry of Internal Affairs. UNAIDS and UNODC also co-organized the event.
The meeting provided a platform for discussing drug policy issues, bringing together Commission members, public organization representatives, experts, and community leaders. Key topics included:
- Optimizing the National Anti-Drug Commission’s activities, particularly in preparation for Moldova’s potential EU accession.
- Developing a unified vision for the future National Drug Strategy/Program in Moldova.
- Defining mechanisms for intersectoral cooperation in harm reduction, treatment, rehabilitation, and social integration for people who use drugs.
- Exploring measures to enhance the quality and accessibility of services for individuals who use drugs.
A key outcome of the discussions was the unified recommendation to urgently initiate the development of a new National Drug Strategy in Moldova in early 2025. This would involve creating a dedicated working group, establishing implementation deadlines, and securing the necessary technical and financial resources.
It is important to highlight that, as of early 2023, the previous National Drug Strategy (2020-2027) was no longer in effect. It was partially replaced by the Crime Prevention and Combating Program (2022-2025), which addresses the supply reduction component. However, other critical components, such as demand reduction and harm reduction, were left unaddressed by the current policies.
This recommendation, along with other key findings, was presented at the National Commission on Drugs meeting on February 11, 2025. As a result, the Commission decided to commence the development of a new National Drug Strategy and form an inter-ministerial working group to oversee the process.
