Lithuania

Drug Prevention Stakeholder Map

In the framework of the project “Building effective drug prevention results across Europe based on prevention systems analysis and widespread professional training – ASAP training” had been identified the key stakeholders in drug prevention in the different EU Member States.

More information about the ASAP you will find on the project webpage: asap-training.eu. If you would like to know more about the institution, please, click of its name. If you would like to get more information about the ASAP project in Lithuania (the result, ASAP training etc.) please contact our partner in Lithuania:

Drug, Tobacco and Alcohol Control Department
Address (street, postal code): Sv. Stepono str. 27
City/town: Vilnius
Telephone number: +370 5 266 80 60
Eamil: ntakd@ntakd.lt
Website: http://ntakd.lrv.lt/
Drug, Tobacco and Alcohol Control Department is a national governmental institution coordinating, organizing and implementing the measures of drug prevention at the national level. Core tasks of the Drug, Tobacco and Alcohol Control Department:

• to participate in implementation of drug prevention and drug control policy after an identification of the principal directions of the implementation of the said policy;

• to organize an implementation of the measures of drug prevention and drug control, to coordinate other activities of state and municipal institutions and organizations in the sphere of drug prevention and drug control.

In the end of 2018 the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania approved the National Drug, Tobacco and Alcohol Control and use Prevention Programme for 2018–2028, which is a strategic document that provides long-term national goals, priorities and commitment to apply a health-based approach to the use of psychoactive substances (drugs, tobacco and alcohol) and to help people protect or recover their health, well-being and the quality of life. This long-term document is the result of a joint work by officially formed interinstitutional and intersectoral working groups, based on the evaluation of external experts and the inclusion of public opinion survey.

Drug, Tobacco and Alcohol Control Department every year prepares the Interinstitutional Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Drug, Tobacco and Alcohol Consumption of the Lithuania, which is approved by resolution of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania. The above-mentioned plan covers a three-year period, but it is renewed every year. The goal of the the plan is to strengthen health of the Lithuanian population through reduction of drugs, tobacco and alcohol use. The Interinstitutional Action Plan sets the objectives, their implementation measures, the responsible implementing institutions, the funding levels and evaluation criteria. The institutions responsible for organizing and implementing the measure of psychoactive substances use prevention at the national level are: Ministry of Social Security and Labour; Ministry of Education, Science and Sport; Ministry of Health; Department of Youth Affairs under the Ministry of Social Security and Labour; State Mental Health Center; National Education Agency.
MAIN ROLES:
  • initiatives of drug prevention, coordinating other activities of state and municipal institutions and organizations in the sphere of drug prevention
  • participating in the implementation of drug prevention after identifying principal aims of the said policy
THE ORGANIZATION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR:
  • Coordinating drug prevention
  • Advisory role
  • Developing drug prevention programmes and/or policies
  • Monitoring substance related problems in order to apply the results to improve drug prevention
  • Monitoring drug prevention interventions or programmes
  • Supervising the implementation of drug prevention (e.g. providing advice and guidance)
  • Conducting prevention research e.g. evaluation of drug prevention programmes, epidemiological studies in the general and student population
  • Providing training on substance use prevention
THE SCOPE OF ACTIVITIES:
  • Developing and coordinating Early Intervention Programme in the country

    Since 2011, the Drug, Tobacco and Alcohol Control Department, as the implementing agency of the Early Intervention Programme, has been developing and coordinating the Programme. Based on the best practices and experience in the foreign countries during the implementation of the EU Project FreD goes Net, the Drug, Tobacco and Alcohol Control Department translated and adapted the Guide for Early Intervention, which provides information and practical advice how to work successfully and efficiently with children and youth using alcohol and/or drugs. Early intervention services fill in the gap between the primary psychoactive substance use prevention and treatment of people with dependence disorders and offers services that are still needed and have not been fully provided yet in Lithuania. The basis of the Early Intervention is a short-term intervention course (8 hours) for young people aged 14 – 21 who use drugs and/or alcohol.

    The Profile for Procedure of Execution of the Early Intervention Program was adopted by way of the Order of January 18 2018 through one point service principle and universal procedures for participation of youths with alcohol and drug use experience.

    The new practice aims to ensure that the person in need receives services in his or her municipality anonymously. It provides opportunities to participate in the events on a voluntary basis, constitutes an alternative to punishment, imposes minimal sanctions or addresses those convicted of administrative offences.

    The Department organizes training for specialists annually how to work with young people experimenting or using psychoactive substances occasionally by following the methodology provided in the Guide of the FreD goes net early intervention programme.

    Aiming at visibility of the services, motivating youth to contact and participate, the Drug, Tobacco and Alcohol Control Department, as the implementing agency of the Early Intervention Programme, using attractive information measures, started communication through social media, youth organisations, general education schools and establishments operating in municipalities.

  • Trainings on specific topics on prevention

    • In 2016, the Drug, Tobacco and Alcohol Control Department, meeting the needs of the specialists for the knowledge necessary for successful prevention implementation and taking into account the Minimum Quality Standards in Drug Demand Reduction, translated, adapted and published an abridged version of the European Quality Standards of Psychoactive Substance Use Prevention. Since 2016, the Drug, Tobacco and Alcohol Control Department has been delivering trainings for prevention specialists how to apply the EDPQS standards, organise and implement psychoactive substance use prevention measures. Other trainings depend on the needs of prevention specialists.

  • Education initiative in recreational settings – music festivals

    In 2017, the implementation of one of the positive and innovative activities at musical festivals was started, i.e. the joint educational initiative Be Safe Lab of public and non-governmental organisations. It encourages festival visitors to take care of their health or health of surrounding people and raise their awareness.

    During music festivals, the team of Be Safe Lab consisting of qualified specialists working in the area of psychoactive substance use prevention provide two types of services:

    • Educational: festival visitors are provided with information regarding effects and risks of psychoactive substances, sexually transmitted diseases, drug and/or drink driving. Visitors are provided with an opportunity to test alcohol intoxication with alcotesters and do an instant HIV test;

    • Psychological help: professional psychological help is provided twenty-four hours to individuals who have used psychoactive substances.

Address (street, postal code): Vivulskio g. 5
City/town: Vilnius
Telephone number: +370 634 08299
Eamil: Info@jrd.lt
Website: https://jrd.lt
DESCRIPTION

The Department provides financing for the programs and projects of Open Youth Centres (OYC) and Open Youth Spaces (OYS). It also holds calls for street-based youth-work project proposals. In all these activities, mostly organized by OYC/OYS the main target group are young people with limited opportunities, some of them are using or have tried to use drugs. Our department provides trainings and methodological info for the youth workers, staff of OYC/OYS and volunteers how to work with that target groups, involve them in the activities, motivate and stimulate them to initiate and implement changes in their personal lives. Also EYC/EYS provides some information for young people about the harm of alcohol, drugs, tobacco through discussions and other activities concerning that field. The Department organizes open call for OYC/OYS project (programme) proposals. It delivers training courses, consultations and provides other methodological help for OYC/OYS staff, specialists working directly with the young people. The Department is funded by the national government and European commission.

The Department of Youth Affairs under the Ministry of Social Security and Labour collaborates with the Drug, tobacco and alcohol control department. The Drug, tobacco and alcohol control department was involved in the preparation of the National Youth Strategy Action plan 2017 – 2019. The Department of Youth Affairs creates space and possibilities of meetings, seminars, trainings for the Drug, tobacco and alcohol control department representatives to disseminate information and methodological help for the specialists working with the youth.

THE SCOPE OF ACTIVITIES:
  • Organizing open call (project/programs) competition for OYC/OYS projects
  • Provides trainings, consultations, other methodological help for OYC/OYS stuff, mobile youth workers and street workers with Young people and other specialists directly working with the young people
THE ORGANIZATION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR:
  • Advisory role
  • Monitoring substance related problems in order to apply the results to improve drug prevention
  • Providing training on substance use prevention
Address (street, postal code): K. Kalinausko g. 7, LT-03107
City/town: Vilnius
Telephone number: 8 658 18504
Eamil: info@nsa.smm.lt
Website: https://www.nsa.smm.lt/english/

National Agency for Education (Agency) is educational assistance institution founded by the Ministry of Education, Sport and Science of the Republic of Lithuania. The budgetary institution National Agency for Education was established by merging the former Education Development Centre, National Centre for Special Needs Education and Psychology, Education Supply Centre of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Lithuania, National Examination Centre, Centre of Information Technologies in Education and National Agency for School Evaluation.

MAIN ROLES:
  • to form general education curriculum, which corresponds to the needs of society; to initiate, create and implement innovations in education; to implement education content quality assurance; to improve school performance;
  • to implement necessary quality assurance activities in in-service teacher training and initiate and implement in-service teacher training programmes.

The institution advises on prevention. When implementing its tasks, the Center makes sure that prevention programs and activities address drug prevention as an integral part of the educational content.

THE ORGANIZATION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR:
  • advisory role
  • developing drug prevention programmes and/or policies
  • implementing drug prevention e.g. family- and school-based programmes
  • providing training on substance use prevention
Address (street, postal code): .Vytauto str. 87, LT-21105
City/town: Trakai
Telephone number: +370 640 44931
Eamil: zenonas.javtokas@smlpc.lt
Website: www.smlpc.lt

The Center for Health Education and Diseases Prevention is the state budget health institution within the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Lithuania acting at the national level in the area of health education and prevention of non-communicable diseases, providing training and methodological support for municipal public health bureaus. The Centre does not have a special department for drug prevention.

It provides health education and prevention of non-communicable diseases (including smoking, alcohol and drug prevention) as well as training and methodological support for municipal Public health bureaus, preparing publications, TV and radio broadcasts, websites; training courses and workshops for health specialists.

THE ORGANIZATION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR:
  • acting in the advisory capacity
  • providing training on substance use prevention
  • other tasks (providing obligatory health education services for the public on alcohol and drug prevention (special training courses)
MAIN ROLES:

Health education and prevention non-communicable diseases(including smoking, alcohol and drug prevention), providing training and methodological support for municipal Public health bureaus.

THE SCOPE OF ACTIVITIES:

Health education of the population (publications, TV and radio broadcasts, website) and training public health specialists (training courses, workshops etc.) on non-communicable diseases (including such risk factors as smoking, alcohol and drug use)

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