Counterculture

• b'WOODSTOCK, Ill., May 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --Woodstock Sterile Solutions, a leading blow-fill-seal (BFS) contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), has announced the addition of three pharmaceutical industry veterans to serve as independent members of its Board of Directors.
• Lee Karras, Itzhak Krinsky, and David Seltzer, will join Paul Josephs, the CEO of Woodstock Sterile Solutions, and three members of owner SK Capital Partners on the seven-member Board.\n"I look forward to working with the members of our Board to build on the early success we have had at Woodstock Sterile Solutions," says Josephs.
• "The blow-fill-seal industry is growing fast, and Woodstock Sterile Solutions has great prospects for growth.
• "I believe my experience at Hi-Tech Pharmacal, which also produced niche sterile products, will be advantageous to me as a board member and advisor to Woodstock.

• "Latin America is the fastest-growing regional ecommerce market in the world," says A.J.
• "It's possible to market there the way you would anywhere else.
• As an example of the need to know how, Hernandez cites the supposed prohibition on importing cosmetics into Mexico.
• Instead of applying the previously used simplified carrier clearance, MEX now requires a much more laborious and costly customs entry procedure.

Lisbon 
1.10.2020 This content was published in the EU4MD update released on 01.10.2020. This update also presents a section on studies, upcoming events, and a research corner.

Focus on the impact of COVID-19 on drug markets, use and services in the eastern ENP region

• The report highlights the following changes in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic across the eastern ENP region:
  • Drug markets — Signs of supply chain disruption were seen in a reduction in the volume and number of seizures at borders and in increases in retail-level prices for certain types of drugs in some countries. At retail level, contactless drug dealing activities prevailed, prompted by national restrictions on movement, heightened public order measures and strategies to restrict person-to-person contact. Law-enforcement activities were also affected, with fewer drug law offences reported, reflecting a shift in policing priorities towards ensuring public safety.
  • Drug use and drug-related harms — Sources suggest that the availability of most illicit substances smuggled into the region (e.g. heroin, MDMA, amphetamines, cocaine) decreased, which is thought to have led to a reduction in their use. In some contexts, this appears to have resulted in greater use of licit substitutes (e.g. alcohol, pharmaceuticals), frequently in combination with illicit drugs. Cannabis use appears to be the least affected.
  • Drug services — Drug-related services, in some countries, reduced their offer in the early lockdown period, restricting access for new clients. At the same time, in most of the six countries, drug services and NGOs adapted their policies and protocols to ensure the uninterrupted provision of treatment services (e.g. offering take-home OST, online consultations and mobile services for needle and syringe exchange).
  • This study was prepared in consultation with some 30 experts from all six eastern European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) countries.
  • The report concludes that, in the coming months, national authorities may need to consider how to maintain innovative approaches adapted for service provision.
  • Read the report in English and summaries of the report in Azerbaijani, Armenian, Belarussian, Georgian, Ukrainian and Romanian.

Spotlight on partner countries

Republic of Moldova

• The EU4MD contact person on drug-related security matters in his country, Mr Dumitru Vleju, main officer in the Department for policy on preventing and combating crime in the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Moldova, provides insight regarding the drug situation in the Republic of Moldova.
• He highlights the main challenges and threats faced and reflects on successful national efforts and his views on future cooperation with the EU4MD project.
• What are the main drug-related challenges facing the Republic of Moldova?
• The internet-based drug trade is one of the main challenges we are currently facing.
• The increase in new online drug sales schemes leads to a diversity of drugs available on drug markets, especially new synthetic drugs.
• In Moldova, we have been focusing on improving the regulatory framework by approving the new National Anti-Drug Strategy for 2020-2027.
• We also hope to continue to exchange experiences with EU countries on developing anti-drug strategies.
• Finally, it is extremely important to enhance sharing of standard evidence and methodologies designed for the examination of psychotropic substances, their analogues and precursors.

Palestine *

• What are the main drug-related challenges facing Palestine?
• The drug problem remains a concern because it affects adversely not only our homeland in general but also our citizens.
• Our administration has adopted workplans and implemented approaches based on several integrated axes with the ultimate aim of achieving a safe society.
• One of the issues is the illegal cultivation of narcotic substances in Palestine, especially in the border areas such as the east with Jordan, as well as the areas close to the separation barrier.
• Our Drug Enforcement Administration is focusing on arresting and prosecuting drug traffickers, dealers, and those who have committed repeat offences.
• EUPOL COPPS is one of our primary partners in the field of drug control, and cooperation is on-going and developing.
• Since the start of the EU4Monitoring drugs project, our law enforcement officers have already attended several international training sessions with European partners.
• This experience should stimulate them to improve their practice when it comes to drug monitoring and reporting.

• Woodstock is the first City in Canada to take the initiative to outfit its vehicles with dynaCERTs proprietary technology.
• "Woodstock has always been at the forefront of energy conservation and we welcomethe opportunity to make use of such cutting-edge technology," says Woodstock Mayor Trevor Birtch.
• Jim Payne, President & CEO of dynaCERT, stated, The City of Woodstock has established itself as the number one international leader among urban communities adopting dynaCERTs readily available HydraGEN Technology.
• dynaCERT is very proud to support the City of Woodstock and its trailblazers in the global battle against metropolitan air pollution.