The Implementation of the European Prevention Curriculum (EUPC) in Latvia.

Abstract

This practitioner narrative aims to describe the implementation of the European Prevention Curriculum (EUPC) in Latvia, highlighting the structure, key achievements, challenges, and lessons learnt to inform future implementation efforts. Until 2025, Latvia has translated the EUPC handbook into the national language, ensured EUPC basic trainings since 2021 and the academic course since 2023, and, with the support of the European Drugs Agency (EUDA, formerly known as the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, EMCDDA), trained five national EUPC trainers. Currently, the EUPC training is offered at most twice a year-once for national decision-makers, opinion leaders, and policymakers (DOPs) and once for university students. Key barriers to the large-scale implementation of the EUPC include limited funding, the additional workload associated with delivering EUPC trainings for national trainers, the absence of a national implementation framework, and the lack of official recognition of EUPC certification. Nevertheless, an analysis of participants' pre-test and post-test responses demonstrates an increase in self-reported knowledge related to EUPC content. Furthermore, elements of the EUPC have been integrated into various methodological and educational materials on substance use prevention in Latvia.