CADAP 8 – Central Asia Drug Action Programme

Central Asia holds a strategic position as a corridor between Afghanistan, historically the world’s main opiate-producing country, and European and Eurasian markets. In recent years, the regional context has been profoundly reshaped by developments in Afghanistan, the rise of synthetic drugs and new psychoactive substances, the use of emerging technologies by criminal networks, and increasing geopolitical complexity.

At the same time, national health and justice systems face structural limitations in responding in a balanced manner to both drug supply and demand challenges. Gaps persist in the generation of evidence-based data, in legislative harmonisation with international standards, and in the provision of prevention, treatment and reintegration services with a gender and human rights perspective.

In this context, CADAP 8 is positioned as a strategic instrument of the European Union to strengthen regional resilience, promote integrated drug policies, and reinforce both law enforcement cooperation and public health responses, thereby contributing to stability and security in Central Asia.

Project objectives

Programme Objective

To reduce the supply and demand of drugs in Central Asia in order to promote regional stability and enhance public security, through a balanced, evidence-based and aligned approach.

Supply Reduction

To strengthen national and regional capacities to prevent, detect and investigate illicit drug trafficking, including synthetic substances, by promoting cross-border cooperation and the…

Demand Reduction

To improve policies and services for prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and social reintegration, ensuring a public health approach, grounded in reliable data and incorporating a gender and human r