To enhance drug prevention strategies, a delegation from Georgia embarked on a three-day study visit to Tallinn, Estonia on 23-25 October 2023. The visit was organized under the auspices of the project "Developing a Drug Prevention Support Network for Parents and Professionals in Georgia" implemented by the Pompidou Group of the Council of Europe in co-operation with the National Institute for Health Development of Estonia.

The primary objective of this study visit was to introduce Georgian authorities to the Estonian model of drug policy and legislative framework, coordinated jointly by the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Social Affairs in Estonia. The Georgian delegation aimed to glean insights into the comprehensive approach of Estonia towards evidence-based drug prevention, focusing on various aspects such as universal, family-based, school-based, and environmental prevention-related programmes and interventions for children and adolescents.

The Georgian representatives were introduced to a range of successful school-based prevention programmes, including "The Incredible Years," Positive Parenting interventions and Good Behaviour Game (VEPA). Moreover, they gained valuable insights into the implementation of the European Prevention Curriculum (EUPC) in Estonia and the Teacher's Handbook on Substance Use Prevention.

In addition to exploring these innovative prevention programmes, the Georgian delegation learnt about the legislative and policy aspects of drug prevention in Estonia. The delegation learned about the pivotal role of the Scientific Prevention Council in implementing drug-related prevention interventions across Estonia, including on a municipal level in the 79 counties of the country. They were also introduced to the closed facilities for children and adolescents, as well as how the referral system functions for these target groups with varying risk factors. In addition, Estonian colleagues shared their methods of evaluating prevention programmes, data collection and monitoring relates issues.

The Georgian delegation held meetings with various Estonian government bodies, including representatives of the Health Development Institute, Ministry of Social Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Social Insurance Board, Scientific Prevention Council and the Ministry of Interior. The Georgian team consisted of officials from the National Drug Observatory (Ministry of Justice), State Care Agency, Central Criminal Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Education and Science, Office of the Resource Officers to Educational Institutions, and the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health, and Social Affairs of Georgia.

To finalise the visit, Denis Huber, Executive Secretary of the Pompidou Group, held a bilateral meeting with Ain Peil, Adviser in the Public Order and Criminal Police Department, while the study visit delegation was warmly welcomed by Mr. Tarmo Milits, Secretary General of the Ministry of the Interior of Estonia.

The insights gained during this study visit are expected to be used for improving the design and implementation of drug prevention strategies and developing evidence-informed programmes in Georgia, ultimately benefitting children and adolescents as well as their parents.