The Day Center with Short-Term Hospitality services and the Mobile Unit of OKANA in Thessaloniki, where he met with the Deputy Minister of Health Mr. Dimitris Vartzopoulos, the President of OKANA Mr. Athanassios Theoharis, and the executives of the structure were visited by the Director of the EMCDDA Mr. Alexis Goosdeel

As Mr. Goosdeel pointed out during his visit, Europe and the European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) are closely monitoring the policy implemented by our country in the field of addictions. The 5 Day Centers of OKANA, the new Area of ​​Supervised Use, the Mobile Intervention Units, the intensification of streetwork actions and the legislative regulation of the use of Naloxone by all, are among the most important and pioneering interventions of a holistic approach to dealing with addiction and of possible accompanying problems in Europe, such as homelessness, overdose treatment, the need to meet basic living needs, as well as the need for primary health care, feeding and clothing provision.

Holistic care of addicts in Day Centers

Specifically, OKANA’s Day Centers aim at the holistic care of our dependent fellow citizens to meet their basic living needs, while also providing short-term accommodation services to deal with homelessness. The Day Center with Short-Term Hospitality services of OKANA (MIS 5045167) on Kosti Palamas, where the visit took place, is financed by the PEP of Central Macedonia, as well as the Mobile Unit respectively. (MIS 5041775). Both the Mobile Intervention Unit and the Day Center cover care needs in the field every day. The Director of the EMCDDA emphasized the importance of a holistic approach to dependency and how the Day Centers and Mobile Units, with their innovative operation, contribute to this, making them now an example of best practice for the whole of Europe. These projects financed by NSRF are very basic services, which should continue financially, and ensure their operation even after the financing.

New challenges and substances in the field

In the context of the meeting, the new challenges from the appearance of new substances in the field that Europe has been called to face in recent years were also discussed. The importance of the early warning system was emphasized, so that both Europe and our country are ready to cope with these new challenges.

Important steps taken by Greece for addiction interventions

The Director, Mr. Goosdeel, emphasized that the important steps that have been taken in recent years to address our country’s dependence on OKANA, set our country as an example of best practice throughout Europe. After all, the President of OKANA, for the last three years, has prioritized the holistic approach and care of dependent people, recognizing the catalytic role it plays in further dealing with addiction and the development of the dependent person. This multi-level and human-centered approach today makes OKANA one of the most comprehensive Organizations in all of Europe, where it covers the entire spectrum of the needs of dependent people.
The meeting concluded with the Director’s report on the evolution of the EMCDDA into EUDA (EUROPEAN UNION DRUG AGENCY) and the mission of the new body, as well as on the new legislative initiatives of the Deputy Minister of Health Mr. Vartzopoulos for the creation of a single body to deal with addictions in our country.
The needs change, so the approach must change and modernize all services with the aim of dealing with addiction in all areas and with all therapeutic possibilities and approaches, for the benefit of the very people who face this problem every day.