• Abstracts need to be submitted by 22 May 2024 (extended deadline) via the following link.
• Before writing your abstract, it’s crucial to select the session format (A) you intend for, as different sessions cater to various submission styles. 
• Choose one of the tracks (B) that is the best fit for the focus of your work. Make sure your abstract speaks to that track. 
• Write your abstract following the specific guidelines for each session type (C).
• Abstracts should not exceed 2500 characters, excluding title, track, and author’s bios (when requested). 
• Abstracts have to be submitted in English 
• If your abstract is selected for the conference, the session format and track might differ from what you originally selected.

This track invites contributions analysing, reflecting upon, or challenging existing punitive approaches in various policy domains, primarily focusing on drug policies and their interconnectedness with broader societal issues. 

In this track, we also encourage contributions that shed light on the broader implications of stigma and discrimination, the effects of EU enlargement on drug policy, and the critical issue of human rights violations. 

The following topics are included in this track:

• Drug Policy reform
• Drug policy analysis and evaluation
• EU Drug Policy Developments
• Law enforcement and drug policy
• Punitive policies and approaches in different policy domains
• Stigma and discrimination
• EU Enlargement – implications for drug policy
• Human Rights violations

This track invites contributions describing, evaluating, and reflecting upon various services and practices in harm reduction, with a particular emphasis on fostering innovation and offering solutions in the field. 

The following topics are included in this track:

• Drug Consumption Rooms
• Digital HR Interventions
• Drug Checking
• Opioid Agonist Therapy (OAT)
• Naloxone and take-home naloxone
• Stimulants treatment
• Treatment with psychedelics
• HR in prison settings
• Nightlife
• Chemsex

This track emphasises the importance of intersectionality – the interconnected nature of social categorisations such as race, class, gender, and sexuality – in shaping individuals’ experiences and influencing policy and programmatic responses. Contributions to this track highlight the diverse perspectives, experiences, and needs of communities of people who use drugs and advocate for inclusive, holistic approaches to social justice and advocacy. 

The following topics are included in this track:

• Gender-specific approaches
• Homelessness
• Youth
• Migration
• Mental Health
• Sex Work

Contributions to this track underscore the importance of centring communities’ voices, experiences, and expertise in shaping policies, programs, and care delivery through community-based approaches, participatory research, and inclusive practices. 

The following topics are included in this track:

• Community-based and led research and monitoring
• Peer Involvement
• Employment policies for People with lived/living experience

This track focuses on building resilience within harm reduction frameworks and developing effective responses to emerging challenges and crises. It acknowledges the importance of robust funding, integrated approaches, quality standards, and strategic partnerships in enhancing the resilience of harm reduction initiatives. Additionally, it recognises the need for innovative research approaches and community engagement to address evolving issues. 

The following topics are included in this track:

• HR Funding at local, national, and European levels
• Integrated approaches
• Quality Standards for HR
• War in Ukraine
• Innovative Research approaches
• Neighborhood Engagement
• Strategic partnerships and collaborations

Contributions to this track focus on advancing efforts to prevent, test, and treat communicable diseases within the context of harm reduction and the specific needs of different groups of people who use drugs.

The following topics are included in this track:

• Prevention, testing, and treatment of HIV
• Prevention, testing, and treatment of Hepatitis B and C
• Prevention, testing, and treatment of TB

Contributions to this track delve into the complexities of contemporary drug markets, with a focus on reducing the harms associated with drug supply. This track acknowledges the evolving landscape of drug trends and emphasises the urgent need for innovative approaches to mitigate the risks posed by toxic substances in illicit drug markets.

The following topics are included in this track:

• New Drug Trends
• Reducing Harms of Toxic Supply (e.g., safer supply, tests, etc)

A space to suggest something not covered by the other conference tracks.

• Research-based 

Background: What were your research objectives and the problem being studied?
Methodology: Describe the details of how you did your research. Who did what, when, with how many, and where?
Results: Provide a summary of your main findings.
Conclusion: What impact does your research have? Describe the relevance and implications of your results and discuss the lessons that the audience would take away with them. 

• Service, program or model of care 

Background: Why is/was this intervention needed? Which problems and needs are being addressed? What are/were the aims and objectives of the intervention?
Setting: Provide details such as geographical location, target population, or patterns/prevalence of local drug use.
Project: Describe the practice, program or model of care. What did you do? How did you do it? What made you decide to do it this way?
Outcomes: Describe the impact or results of your intervention. How many people did you reach out to and help? What barriers did you face? What would you do differently if you could start again? What lessons did you learn? 

• Advocacy and policy action 

Background: Why was policy and advocacy action needed? Which policy problem was addressed? What were the aims and objectives of your work?
Setting: Which approach, methods and tools were used in the policy and advocacy action? What did you do? How did you do it? What made you decide to do it this way?
Key arguments: Which main key messages did you have?
Outcomes and implications: Describe the impact or results of your work. What barriers did you face? Outline what lessons your audience could learn from your work and how it can impact their work

Background: Explain why the workshop is important and which learning needs will be addressed.
Learning Objectives: Describe the aims and learning objectives of the workshop. Describe which topics will be addressed.
Workshop Outline: How will the workshop be organised? Which setting and methods will be used?
Number of Participants: What is the minimum and maximum number of participants for the workshop?
Speakers/Facilitators: Provide names and brief bios (up to 60 words each) of those moderating and presenting during the workshop.

Background: Explain why the session is important. Which problems and needs are being addressed? What are the aims and objectives of the session?
Session Description: Briefly explain the topic(s) you want to address during the session. How will the session be organised? What is the overall structure of the session?
Speakers/Facilitators: Provide names and brief bios (up to 60 words each) of those moderating and speaking during the session.

Description: Briefly explain the creative expression you propose to present. Include information on the art form(s) involved (e.g., visual arts, performance, music, etc.)
Objectives and relevance: Describe the objectives of the expression and how they align with the conference themes or topics.
Space and Technical Requirements: Specify the space and technical requirements necessary for the successful execution of your performance. Include relevant details such as the preferred venue setup (e.g., stage, gallery space, outdoor area), any audiovisual equipment needed (e.g., microphones, projectors, speakers), and any specific environmental conditions required (e.g., lighting, acoustics).
Duration and Format: Indicate your intervention’s preferred duration and presentation format (e.g., live performance, exhibition). Ensure that the proposed duration aligns with the conference schedule and allows for adequate audience engagement.

• After submitting your abstract, you will receive an automated email, confirming your abstract submission 
• Each abstract will be reviewed by two independent reviewers, ensuring there is no conflict of interest.
• The organising committee will review abstracts based on predefined criteria, including 
  • Appropriateness of objectives and methods: is the work and the methodology appropriate to the aims and objectives? 
  • Clarity and quality of the work described in the abstract: are background, rationale, methods, results and conclusions clearly described? 
  • Relevance and significance of the contribution: is the abstract relevant for the EHRC2024? Does it align with the Conference objectives and tracks? Is it relevant for others and can others learn or benefit from the work? Is the work innovative?
• You will be notified at the end of July, whether your abstract has been selected for the conference

Join us in Warsaw to contribute to advancing harm reduction efforts and promoting health, social justice, and human rights for all.

For questions and inquiries about the abstract submission, please contact eschatz@correlation-net.org