The Pompidou Group awards the European Drug Prevention Prize to highlight the work of active youth drug prevention projects. In general, it aims to encourage the development of drug prevention work in which young people are active participants.

The award focuses on the prevention of the misuse of drugs by a range of methods. This could include teaching people generic life skills or improving their self-esteem, or include activities that divert people from drug use, such as improving leisure facilities. However, it is expected that all applicant projects have an explicit drug prevention orientation in their objectives. Projects including innovative approaches, especially those using new digital technologies, as well as those targeting young people under 18, are particularly encouraged.

Projects must meet the following criteria:

• Be run by more than one person and have some formal structure.
• Involve young people under the age of 25 years in the work of the project.
• Be currently running, or have recently finished, in one or more of the Council of Europe member States, Pompidou Group member States, Observer States, and members of the Pompidou Group’s Mediterranean network for co-operation on drugs and addictions.

Government sponsored, private sector and community-run projects by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are eligible. Equally, projects do not have to be funded to be eligible and can be entirely voluntary.

Three prizes winners each receive a trophy and prize money of €6,000. The award is a prize rather than a grant, and is therefore not intended for future or planned projects but instead for projects that are already running or have recently finished.

Applications should be submitted by the 30 May 2025 deadline.