French Public Health Code
In forceA National Institute for Teaching, Research, Information and Prevention on Drug Addiction is responsible for coordinating all State activities and carrying out all useful research, both fundamental and clinical, in the field of drug addiction and drug dependence.
The Institute's role as State coordinator covers :
-training staff who come into contact with drug addicts in various ways;
-scientific research into the various factors involved in the causes, prevention and treatment of drug addiction;
-information, using all necessary means to respond adequately to the concerns of individuals, communities and public or private bodies regarding everything that is involved at a theoretical or practical level in the "drug addiction" phenomenon;
-the study of the conditions of application of the legislation relating to narcotics and the definition of all proposals in this respect.
The Institute's research mission is to define :
-the mechanisms of action of drugs leading to dependence, i.e. behaviour oriented towards seeking and consuming a drug in quantities harmful to the health of the consumer and to society;
-antidotes to the harmful effects of addictive drugs, as well as the best methods for treating and rehabilitating drug addicts;
-the harm reduction policy for drug users referred to in article L. 3411-8;
-using epidemiological surveys, the distribution of consumption of the main addictive drugs, according to the statistical methods of contemporary epidemiology;
-on the basis of these scientific data, education designed to train staff responsible for the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicts.
