Portugal decriminalized personal use of all illicit drugs in 2001 and adopted a national strategy based on a strong public health focus. A 2010 quantitative estimate of the criminal justice sector costs for drug control in Portugal showed an expenditure of 73% for detention, 20% for the police sector and 7% for the justice sector. The high costs in the prison sector should be explored in greater depth, to understand whether or not they reflect the country’s new legislative framework and governance of addiction, or are due to other factors, such as investment in treatment services for prisoners.

Key words: Criminal justice, decriminalization, Costs, Portugal

Lead author(s): Liquori

In the interests of public health, we need to rethink how we understand corporate power and manage it through policy structures, including adopting whole-government approaches, binding regulation, broadening the definition of ‘lobbying’ and tightening its regulation in relation to addictive industries in Europe and EU member states.

Key words: Corporate capture, industry, transparency, lobbying

Author(s): Miller, Harkins

Examining the determinants of transitions across a developmental trajectory of harmful behaviour can help with the identification of stage-specific (e.g. risky use, harmful use, cessation of use) determinants, which should result in earlier and more nuanced public health responses to the development of problem behaviour.

Key words: stage-specific determinants, harmful behaviour, transitions, public health response

Lead author(s): Gell, Lees, McLeod, Bühringer, Meier, Holmes, Lingford-Hughes, Forberger

Interdisciplinary research activity is challenging but crucial for developing a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding of and addressing the factors that influence the development of harmful substance use and gambling behaviours.

Key words: interdisciplinarity, substance use, determinants, gambling

Lead author(s): Gell, Lees, McLeod, Bühringer, Meier, Holmes, Lingford-Hughes, Forberger

Societal well-being and its domains can serve as a framework for a better understanding of addictive substances and behaviours, resulting in more effective and beneficial policy and governance.

Key words: well-being framework, OECD, societal progress

Lead author(s): Stoll, Anderson, Braddick