Press Releases Connecting Addictions and Cardiovascular Health in Europe: Roundtable Highlights the Importance of Promoting a Rational Approach at the EU Level

Connecting Addictions and Cardiovascular Health in Europe: Roundtable Highlights the Importance of Promoting a Rational Approach at the EU Level

Subject: Press Release: European Roundtable Highlights the Link Between Addictions and Cardiovascular Health


Brussels, October 2, 2024
– The Institute for Rational Addiction Policies today organized a roundtable titled “Connecting Addictions and Cardiovascular Health in Europe.” Leading experts on addictions and economics met with policymakers to discuss the relationship between the use of addictive substances, mental health, and cardiovascular diseases, seeking solutions at the European level. The Institute, led by Jindřich Vobořil, intends to focus more on effective and rational approaches to addictions within the EU and aims for closer collaboration with European institutions in promoting rational policies in this area.

In Europe, addictive substances, especially smoking, are currently the main risk factor for mortality in preventable diseases. The share of deaths from all causes due to smoking among people over 30 years old in Europe is 16 percent, which is about 5 percent more than the global average. This includes both cardiovascular and other diseases,” says Jindřich Vobořil, Chairman of the Board of the Institute for Rational Addiction Policies and adds: “The European Union must change the currently ineffective practices. It should focus very specifically, alongside regulations, much more on prevention and effective networks of help and treatment or substitution options. During my mandate as the National Drug Policy Coordinator, I advocated, in addition to emphasizing prevention and modern treatment approaches, for a number of rational regulations of addictive products. For example, the regulation of nicotine pouches or the so-called psychomodulation law regulating substances like kratom or HHC. These can serve as examples for all of Europe.”

Connecting Addictions, Mental Health, and Cardiovascular Diseases

 Cardiovascular diseases represent almost 12 percent of the total health burden in the EU, causing more than 6 million new cases and 1.8 million deaths annually. The Hungarian Presidency of the EU Council has made cardiovascular health one of its key priorities, as has European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who included the prevention of cardiovascular diseases in her political program.

“The onset of the new EU mandate presents a crucial opportunity to discuss cardiovascular diseases, addictions, and mental health. Policymakers should therefore focus attention on the main causes of these diseases, including the consumption of harmful substances. We want to emphasize scientifically based solutions and discuss the harm reduction approach, that is, reducing the negative health impacts of using addictive substances. Besides interventions focused on harm reduction, it’s necessary to regulate the market according to risk factors and thus create a substituted market with less risky alternatives in various segments. Through our think tank, we strive for greater cooperation with EU institutions in promoting rational addiction policies,” adds Vobořil.

The total economic costs of cardiovascular diseases in the EU amount to 282 billion euros, representing 2 percent of European GDP and 11 percent of health and social care costs. Without rational interventions, European healthcare will not be able to provide an adequate level of services to all patients suffering from these diseases.

Conference participants emphasized that poor mental health significantly contributes to the public health crisis in the EU. Addictions to alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs are closely linked to mental health problems, often creating a vicious circle that increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, mental health and addictions should be considered interconnected phenomena.

Speakers at the roundtable in Brussels were:

  • Jindřich Vobořil, Chairman of the Board of the Institute for Rational Addiction Policies, former National Drug Policy Coordinator, member of the advisory team to the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic
  • Danuše Nerudová, Member of the European Parliament, Substitute in the ENVI
  • Committee, EPP, Czechia
  • Helena Gherasim, Head of the Association of Providers of Addiction Services (APAS)
  • Michael Fanta, Chief Analyst at the Center for Economic and Market Analysis (CETA), lecturer and researcher at Anglo-American University in Prague (AAU)

The event was moderated by Tomáš Sadílek, an expert on international drug regulations and advisor to the Office of the Government of the Czech Republic.

The Institute for Rational Addiction Policies plans to organize another roundtable during the Polish Presidency of the EU Council in the first half of 2025 as part of the continuation of this initiative. “We want to ensure the continuity of this important topic and further collaborate at the European level,” adds Vobořil.

About Institute for Rational Addiction Policies (IRAP)

Multidisciplinary association of independent and prominent experts. Addresses addiction from all angles: public and individual health, legislation and other legal implications, including security challenges, economics (market modeling, tax, economic impacts on public budgets), education and prevention, social and sociological and political science.

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