Organizational and legal principles of countering drug crime: international aspect

The article examines the peculiarities of the theoretical and practical problems of the organizational and legal foundations of combating drug crime in the international aspect. It is suggested that the organizational and legal principles of countering drug crime should be understood as a system of normative and legal acts, which consist of administrative and legal norms and regulate the most important aspects of the organization and functioning of its subjects of countering in compliance with legislation in the field of countering drug crime. The approaches of the draft Strategy of the State Policy of Ukraine for the period until 2030 in the context of the requirements of European integration, taking into account the provisions of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU of 2014, are indicated, and the priority areas of the EU Drug Strategy for 2021–2025 are highlighted. The EU Drugs Strategy 2021–2025 is set to protect and improve societal and individual well-being, protect and strengthen public health, offer a high level of safety and well-being for the general public, and increase health literacy. It is established that the policies of the EU Drug Strategy for 2021–2025 are announced in three areas, namely: (1) reducing the supply of drugs and strengthening security; (2) reducing the demand for drugs (prevention, treatment and care services); (3) addressing drug-related harm, and includes: (a) international cooperation, (b) research, innovation and forecasting; (c) coordination, management and implementation. It is indicated that one of the important strategic priorities of the EU Drug Strategy for 2021–2025 is to ensure access to treatment and care services, which involves voluntary and non-discriminatory access to a wide range of effective services based on evidence, including professional counseling, psychosocial, behavioral and drug treatment, including targeted opioid replacement therapy programs, rehabilitation, social reintegration, and recovery support programs.