Responsiveness and preparedness in addressing drug-related needs of displaced Ukrainians in EU countries bordering Ukraine

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, it is estimated that around 8 million people have fled the war in Ukraine, of which an unprecedented 5 million people have crossed the borders into the European Union. An unknown proportion of those displaced will have established drug-related problems and will require medical care for opioid dependence, in particular OAT, as well as for prevention and treatment of drug-related infectious diseases. In order to investigate the responsiveness and preparedness in addressing drug-related needs of displaced Ukrainians in EU countries, the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction instigated a mixed-method trendspotter study to assess the initial service response to the needs of displaced Ukrainians in neighbouring EU countries. The study also identifies factors that may help EU countries to be better prepared for possible future needs in this area, either associated with further population displacement or more generally because of the vulnerabilities of those who have experienced displacement.