Abstract: In the recent years several drugs with an anticraving effect have been developed. These drugs should reduce the urge to drink alcohol. In the near future some of these drugs with different pharmacological profiles will be introduced to several European countries. That’s why a critical review of the psychobiological concept craving is necessary. Although widely used craving is an illdefined term. Craving has been associated with different psychological concepts that are mostly based on behavorial theories. Furthermore, some biochemical findings probably associated with craving are reviewed. However, thus far the assessment of craving is based on self-reports, since it is a subjective cognition like pain. The magnitude of craving depends on situational factors, varying with time and place. Thus, a sufficient assessment has to include the conditions and expectancies occurring together with craving.

Abstract: Die Arbeit gibt ein übersichtliches Bild zur Art und zum Ausmass der kantonalen Steuerungsaktivitäten an der Schnittstelle zwischen ambulanter und stationärer Gesundheitsversorgung. Neben dem theoretischen Zugang kommen mehrere empirische Ansätze zum Einsatz: Auswertung von Fallbeispielen (zum Zulassungsstopp für Arztpraxen und zur Langzeitpflege), Primärerhebung von Informationen bei Kantonsverwaltungen sowie statistische Modellrechnungen zur Erklärung unterschiedlicher Intensitäten kantonaler Steuerungsaktivität. Cet étude donne une vue d’ensemble de la nature et de l’ampleur du pilotage dans les cantons des interfaces entre les soins ambulatoires et les soins hospitaliers. En plus de sup-ports théoriques, elle recourt à plusieurs approches empiriques : elle analyse des exemples de cas (sur le moratoire sur l’ouverture des cabinets médicaux et les soins de longue durée), relève des informations auprès des administrations cantonales et utilise des modèles de calcul statistiques pour expliquer les différents degrés de pilotage des soins entre les cantons.

Abstract: National drugs observatories have flourished and developed rapidly over the last two decades as a direct consequence of the decisions taken to establish regional drug monitoring systems, both in the European Union and in the Americas. Initially, there was no reference framework available — observatories were set-up using trial and error, taking into account different national contexts and resources. This explains why today there are as many models of observatories as there are countries establishing them. Looking back at this long process, there seemed to be a need to formalise the experiences in the field, and to identify some key concepts and principles that remain valid irrespective of country or region. This handbook, a joint production by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) and the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission of the Organization of American States (CICAD–OAS), presents and describes in a clear and informative way the core operational processes and the key strategic factors that are common to all national drugs observatories.

Abstract: The report on the state of the drugs problem in Europe presents the EMCDDA’s yearly overview of the drug phenomenon. This is an essential reference book for policy-makers, specialists and practitioners in the drugs field or indeed anyone seeking the latest findings on drugs in Europe. Published every autumn, the report contains non-confidential data supported by an extensive range of figures.