The Institute for Rational Addiction Policies is hosting a roundtable, "Connecting Addictions and Cardiovascular Health in Europe."

Cardiovascular diseases account for nearly 12% of the EU's total health burden, causing over 6 million new cases and 1.8 million deaths each year. Holding the current Presidency of the Council of the EU, Hungary has made cardiovascular health one of the key priorities on its agenda. European Commission's President Ursula von der Leyen has also recently included prevention of cardiovascular diseases in her political agenda. As a result, policymakers should increasingly focus on addressing the root causes of these diseases, including the consumption of harmful substances.

At the same time, poor mental health plays a significant role in public health challenges. Addictions to alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs are closely linked to mental health issues, often creating a cycle that increases the risk of cardiovascular conditions. Therefore, tackling these interconnected issues is essential for improving health outcomes across Europe.

The start of a new EU mandate presents a crucial opportunity to discuss cardiovascular diseases, addictions, and mental health while highlighting evidence-based policy solutions. This event provides a platform to exchange ideas and define key priorities for addressing these topics in a holistic way at the EU level.

The key speakers at the event include:

• Mgr. Jindřich Vobořil, Pg.Dip., Director of the Institute for Rational Addiction Policies (IRAP), former Czech Anti-Drug Coordinator and Advisor to the Czech Prime Minister.
• Prof. Ing. Danuše Nerudová, Ph.D., Member of the European Parliament and Substitute in the ENVI Committee.
• Mgr. et Mgr. Helena Gherasim, Head of the Association of Providers of Addiction Services (APAS).  
• Michael Fanta Ph.D., Chief Analyst at Centre for Economic and Market Analysis (CETA), Lecturer and Researcher at Anglo-American University in Prague (AAU).

Date and time: 2nd October 2024, 09:30-11:30

Venue: Press Club Brussels, Rue Froissart 95, 1040 Brussels

Agenda:

Moderated by Tomáš Sadílek, Expert on International Drug Regulations and Advisor to the Office of the Government of the Czech Republic

09:30 – 09:45    Coffee and registration

09:45 – 10:00    Opening remarks

• Prof. Ing. Danuše Nerudová, Ph.D., Member of the European Parliament, Substitute in the ENVI Committee, EPP, Czechia

10:00 – 10:15    Keynote Speech

• Mgr. Jindřich Vobořil, Pg.Dip., Director of Institute for Rational Addiction Policies, Advisor to the Czech Prime Minister, Former Czech National Drug Coordinator

10:15 – 11:00    Policy roundtable

• Michael Fanta Ph.D., Chief Analyst at Centre for Economic and Market Analysis (CETA), Lecturer and Researcher at Anglo-American University in Prague (AAU)
• Mgr. et Mgr. Helena Gherasim, Head of the Association of Providers of Addiction Services (APAS)

11:00 – 11:30    Q&A Session

11:30 – 12:30    Light Lunch & Networking

Click here to register for the roundtable.