Source: 📒 The Mayor's Guide to Drugs and Addictive Behaviours – Alcohol – Tobacco – Drugs – Screens – Practical Guide 2026
📜🔗LINK
Number of pages: 120
1. Analytical summary
Context and exposed audiences
The guide starts from the observation of a transformation in the addictive landscape: a decrease in the use of alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis among young people, but an increase in the diffusion of cocaine, synthetic drugs, nitrous oxide, gambling, and problematic screen use, including in rural and overseas territories.
It documents massive impacts on avoidable mortality (tobacco and alcohol), mental health, educational and professional trajectories, road safety, domestic and sexual violence, public tranquillity, and the environment (cigarette butts, nitrous oxide waste).
Young people (with brains still developing until the age of 25), pregnant women, vulnerable individuals, residents of disadvantaged neighbourhoods, and certain professional environments are identified as particularly vulnerable.
The text recontextualises these issues within the inter-ministerial strategy for mobilising against addictive behaviours (SIMCA 2023-2027), the national tobacco plan, the delinquency prevention strategy, and the plan to combat organised crime.
The mayor is presented as a key actor at the interface between the State, ARS, Justice, National Education, CAF, the associative fabric, and residents, even though the fight against addictions is not a legally exclusive competence of the municipality.
Operational contributions, tools, and proposed approaches
The guide provides a comprehensive framework for building a local diagnosis (patterns of consumption, risky places and times, product accessibility, nuisances, trafficking) and co-developing an action plan through existing mechanisms: CLS/CLSM, CLSPD/CISPD, city contracts, educational cities, rural educational territories.
It details, chapter by chapter, the levers of the mayor: early prevention (CPS, parenting, CJC, actions in school and extracurricular settings), control of alcohol and tobacco sales, combating trafficking and IPM, festive life policy, workplace prevention via ESPER, social and health support for users.
Practical sheets, framed 'Practical Questions', thematic focuses (gambling, screens, cocaine, CBD) and 'Common Misconceptions' sections allow for direct use in meetings or internal training.
The work refers to numerous updated references (OFDT, Public Health France, WHO, ANJ, ARCEP, MILDECA) to secure messages and choose validated programmes, particularly in the area of psychosocial skills.
Finally, it offers examples of cross-funding (MILDECA credits, FLCA via ARS, FIPD, road safety, city policy, 'Drugs' competition fund) and support mechanisms (MILDECA project manager in the prefecture, CNFPT, ESPER) to move from project to deployment.
2. Key points of the document
The triple target of the local addiction policy (pp. 15-18)
The guide clarifies three structuring objectives: to delay the age of first consumption, to reduce the frequency of addictive behaviours in the general population, and to limit health, social and security-related harm.
These objectives should guide the diagnosis, the choice of actions, and the articulation with SIMCA, PRS, and local security and mental health strategies.
An integrated and partnership-based territorial approach (pp. 18-24)
The text describes an intervention framework by the mayor that intersects public tranquillity, law enforcement, prevention in educational and professional settings, social support, and environmental preservation.
It emphasises co-construction through CLS/CLSM, CLSPD/CISPD, GPO, city contracts, with a central role for the MILDECA project leader and the ARS to coordinate and fund actions.
Early prevention, psychosocial skills, and parenting (pp. 26-43)
The guide documents vulnerabilities related to pregnancy, early childhood, adolescence, and screens, and proposes a strategy for continuous prevention in all living environments.
It highlights structured programmes for strengthening psychosocial skills (Unplugged, CPS reference framework, PSFP), with data on effectiveness and cost-effectiveness, and recommends going through the ARS to validate projects.
Law enforcement, licensed premises, and trafficking (pp. 44-77)
A set of legal tools and procedures is presented to control the sale of alcohol, tobacco, and gambling to minors, regulate nightlife, manage IPM, and contribute to the fight against drug trafficking with security forces and the judiciary.
The guide reminds of the possibility to combine the mayor's police powers, decrees, video protection systems, actions of the public prosecutor, and risk reduction actions (RDRD, CAARUD) involving residents.
Prevention in the workplace and the ESPER system (pp. 78-92)
The 'employer mayor' section proposes a comprehensive approach to preventing addictive behaviours for staff: integration into the DUERP, internal regulations, training, RPIB, management of 'gatherings', control of alcohol and tobacco/vaping, and coordination with occupational health.
The ESPER system is highlighted as a free framework for commitment, with a charter, toolkit, network of signatories, and support from MILDECA and its partners.
3. Action points for local stakeholders
Consolidate an intersectoral diagnosis at the relevant scale (pp. 19-24, 23)
Organise a shared diagnosis (communal or intercommunal) based on schools, medico-social structures, gendarmerie/police, associations, and residents, to identify locations, products, risky moments, and vulnerable populations.
Use CLS/CLSPD or, in rural areas, flexible but structured network meetings, in order to co-prioritise actions and legitimise funding requests.
Deploy a continuum of prevention for young people and families (pp. 26-33, 41-43)
Incorporate validated CPS programmes, actions on screens, and campaigns targeting parents (foetal alcohol syndrome, underage drinking, cannabis, JAH) into local educational projects.
Mobilise CJC, CSAPA, youth centres, CAF, IREPS, and parent federations to co-facilitate regular activities in school/out-of-school settings, and to relay national resources (MILDECA, SPF, JeProtègeMonEnfant).
Structure a local policy for festive life 'with controlled risks' (pp. 94-113)
Develop a framework for sporting, cultural events and nightlife: charter with organisers, conditions for refreshment permits, visible prevention messages, secure return systems, coordination with the municipal police and emergency services.
Incorporate the reduction of nuisances (noise, waste, nitrous oxide) and the prevention of violence (sexist, sexual, road) into regular dialogue with traders, associations and local residents.
Establish an internal ESPER approach for staff (pp. 86-88)
Sign the ESPER charter and integrate the prevention of addictive behaviours into the DUERP, internal regulations, training plans and social dialogue bodies (CST/CSE).
Plan a multi-year action plan: awareness without stigma, early detection, clarification of rules for alcohol and tobacco/vaping, support for staff in difficulty and prevention of professional disconnection.
Fully exploit funding opportunities (pp. 20-21, 22, 42-43)
Structure multi-benefit projects (youth prevention, public tranquillity, mental health) eligible for several funding streams: MILDECA/Prefecture, FLCA via ARS, FIPD, PDASR, urban policy, 'Drugs' competition fund.
Rely on the MILDECA project manager, ARS, DDETS and prefectures to prepare files, pool actions at the intercommunal level and capitalise on the feedback from other municipalities.
4. Additional references
🔍➕ For more information, see the articles referenced by "Pratiques en Santé" on the topic of addictions ➡️🔗https://pratiquesensante.odoo.com/4-5-les-addictions
5. Cross-sectional analysis – Values of Pratiques en Santé
Literacy: the guide remains dense but offers clear definitions, pedagogical boxes, and refers to popularised resources (The Essentials on..., IProtectMyChild), useful for adapting messages for the general public.
Empowerment: the beneficiaries (residents, young people, families) are mainly seen as targets for prevention, but some initiatives (CPS, educational cities, youth councils) enhance their capacity to act and make choices.
Participation: co-construction is affirmed for diagnosis and action plans via CLS, CLSPD, educational cities, with attention to the involvement of field actors and sometimes residents, especially in priority neighbourhoods.
Community health: the collective dimension is present through the territorial approach, actions in living environments (school, work, celebrations, public space) and the logic of integrated local policies.
Ethics: the text emphasises a non-stigmatising, pragmatic approach (RDRD), respectful of the dignity of individuals and attentive to social, family, and psychological vulnerabilities.
Human rights: the principles of equity, protection of minors, safety, and inclusion are present, but the rights of users are mainly addressed through access to care, RDRD, and protection against violence.
Intersectorality: the guide clearly formalises the expected partnerships between the State, ARS, National Education, CAF, local authorities, Justice, security forces, associations, and economic operators (licensed premises, JAH).
Partnership: several models are described (educational cities, CLS/CLSPD, ESPER, MILDECA funding alliances/city policy), with a pivotal role for the mayor and the MILDECA project leader.
Combating discrimination: the document mentions social health inequalities and the particular vulnerability of certain groups (unemployment, neighbourhoods, young people, pregnant women), but it addresses gender, disability, sexual orientation, or origin discrimination only implicitly.
Points of caution in facilitation
Sensitive topics: the document particularly addresses foetal alcohol syndrome, gender-based and sexual violence, domestic violence, social precariousness, and drug use (including crack).
Risks of emotional triggering:
Testimonies or data on student sexual violence and alcohol-related domestic violence may reactivate traumatic experiences in participants.
Discussion about alcohol during pregnancy, disability related to foetal alcohol syndrome, or drug use among relatives may generate guilt or shame.
Mention of trafficking, dealing points, or crack may reactivate fears related to the neighbourhood or experiences of violence.
In training, plan for: a secure framework, the possibility of withdrawal, time for individual exchanges, referrals to listening and care resources (CSAPA, CJC, VSS structures)).
6. Evaluation of the reliability of the resource
Scientific relevance
The document relies on recent and recognised sources: OFDT (EnCLASS, ESCAPAD, key figures), Public Health France (tobacco, alcohol, CPS barometers), WHO, ANJ, ARCEP, university studies (sexual violence, gambling), with data updated until 2025 and a revision on 07/01/2026.
The concepts (addiction as a chronic disease, harm reduction, psychosocial skills, vulnerability of the adolescent brain) are in line with international standards, and the methodology is not detailed but referred to the source reports, which is consistent for an operational guide.
Operational relevance
The resource is highly actionable: summary sheets, actor diagrams, practical questions boxes, examples of funding, references to tools (psychosocial skills programmes, ESPER, PSFP, RPIB, my city is joining forces).
It is particularly suited to mayors and local officials, but is also usable by public health professionals, prevention workers, and social/medico-social workers, who can use it as a basis for intersectoral work.
7. MCQ – 5 questions
Part 1 — Statements (without answers)
Question 1 (pp. 15-18):
What is one of the three main objectives of combating addictive behaviours, as defined in the guide?
a) Increase local alcohol consumption to support the local economy
b) Delay the age of first consumption to protect younger individuals
c) Eliminate all alcohol and tobacco consumption among adults
d) Focus action solely on illicit drugs
Question 2 (pp. 26-33, 41-43):
What do psychosocial skills (CPS) refer to in the guide?
a) A set of psychotechnical tests to recruit municipal agents
b) Political communication techniques for elected officials
c) The ability of a person to effectively cope with the demands of daily life and maintain mental well-being
d) A national police control programme for dealing points
Question 3 (pp. 20-21, 86-88):
What national scheme does the guide recommend to help employers prevent addictive behaviours at work?
a) The UNPLUGGED programme
b) The ESPER scheme
c) The Vigipirate plan
d) The Interministerial Fund for Crime Prevention (FIPD)
Question 4 (pp. 29-31, 42):
According to the guide, what observation is made regarding young people's consumption?
a) All substance consumption has significantly increased over the past ten years
b) The levels of consumption among young people are stable, with no notable changes
c) Consumption levels are declining for most products, but remain high, particularly for certain uses (vaping, significant binge drinking)
d) Young people no longer consume cannabis at all in France
Question 5 (pp. 44-52, 70-77):
What specific role can the mayor play in the fight against drug trafficking, according to the guide?
a) Replace the public prosecutor to lead investigations
b) Issue medical prescriptions for substitution to users
c) Contribute to the fight by mobilising their municipal police powers and cooperating with law enforcement and the judiciary
d) Legalise cannabis at the municipal level to eliminate trafficking
Part 2 — Commented correction
Question 1:
✅ Correct answer: b) Delay the age of first consumption to protect the younger ones.
📝 Explanation: The guide identifies three major objectives: to delay the age of first consumption, to reduce the frequency of addictive behaviours, and to limit their consequences for individuals and society, within a public health and safety framework.
Source: pp. 17-18
Question 2:
✅ Correct answer: c) A person's ability to effectively cope with the demands of daily life and maintain mental well-being.
📝 Explanation: Referring to the WHO, the guide describes psychosocial skills as cognitive, emotional, and social abilities that enable individuals to make choices, manage their emotions, relate to others, and preserve their mental health, with a demonstrated impact on addiction prevention.
Source: pp. 33-34, 41
Question 3:
✅ Correct answer: b) The ESPER scheme.
📝 Explanation: ESPER ("Businesses and Public Services are Committed") is a scheme supported by MILDECA, structured around a charter and a toolkit, allowing employers, including local authorities, to establish a comprehensive approach to preventing addictive behaviours in the workplace.
Source: pp. 86-88
Question 4:
✅ Correct answer: c) Consumption levels are declining for most products, but remain high, particularly for certain uses (vaping, significant binge drinking).
📝 Explanation: The guide shows a decline in tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis consumption among young people over the past decade, while highlighting the persistence of concerning levels and the increase in vaping and risky festive behaviours.
Source: pp. 8‑12, 29
Question 5:
✅ Correct answer: c) Contribute to the fight by mobilising its municipal police powers and cooperating with law enforcement and the judiciary.
📝 Explanation: The guide reminds us that the fight against trafficking is the responsibility of the state, but that the mayor can act through their police powers, regulating risky locations, participating in CLSPD/GPO, and cooperating with the police, gendarmerie, judiciary, and prefect, particularly to secure public spaces and support judicial actions.
Source: pp. 44‑47, 70‑77
8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How to start a local addiction policy in a small rural community without CLS or CLSPD? (pp. 19‑24, 23)
The guide suggests relying on existing networks (schools, medico-social structures, gendarmerie, associations, elected officials, residents) to carry out a shared diagnosis and define some realistic priorities, by bringing together stakeholders at the most relevant level (municipality or inter-municipality).
Source: pp. 19‑24
Which partners to mobilise for prevention actions in school and extracurricular settings? (pp. 29‑33)
The main partners include the DSDEN, school heads, municipal educational services, the ARS, the DDETS, the CAF, the IREPS, the CSAPA/CJC, the CMP/CMPP, specialised associations, and, if possible, educational cities and rural educational territories.
Source: pp. 29‑33
What types of actions can the mayor implement to reduce the risks associated with festive and nightlife? (p. 94-113)
The mayor can condition the authorisations for refreshment stands, formalise charters with organisers and traders, strengthen prevention (messages, stands, breathalyser tests), organise secure returns, adjust hours, and coordinate the municipal police, law enforcement, and emergency services to limit violence, accidents, and nuisances.
Source: p. 94-106, 112
How can the mayor support parents in relation to screen use and adolescent consumption? (p. 28-29, 32-33, 42-43)
The guide recommends awareness-raising actions on technodiversity and the risks of screens, parenting support programmes (PSFP), the dissemination of national resources (IProtectMyChild, Zero alcohol for teens) and the promotion of CJC as a welcoming place for young people and their families.
Source: p. 28-29, 32-33, 42-43
What does the guide propose for the prevention of addictive behaviours among municipal agents? (p. 78-88)
It proposes an action plan including training for managers, raising awareness among all agents, early detection, integration into the DUERP, regulation of alcohol and tobacco/vaping in the workplace, and using the ESPER system to structure the approach.
Source: p. 78-88
How is risk reduction (RDRD) presented and what could be the role of the mayor? (p. 6-7)
RDRD is described as a pragmatic approach aimed at reducing harm (overdoses, infections, marginalisation) without conditioning help on immediate cessation, through sterile equipment, substitution treatments, and low-threshold care.
The national framework recommends involving residents and elected officials to facilitate the implementation of measures, reduce nuisances and tensions, which implies a role of mediation and explanation on the part of the mayor.
Source: p. 6-7
What tools does the guide propose to counter misconceptions about addictions? (p. 24-25, 40-41)
Each main section includes a box titled "Misconceptions" (alcohol among young people, electronic cigarettes, cannabis, cocaine, screens, JAH) presenting a common assertion, followed by a reasoned and sourced response that stakeholders can reuse in facilitation or communication.
Source: p. 24-25, 40-41, 41-42
9. Rewriting in Easy-to-Read Language
Title
Drugs and Addictions: A Guide for Mayors.
Analytical summary in Easy-to-Read Language
1. Context and Issues
Drugs and addictions affect many people in France.
This includes alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, cocaine, gambling, and screens.
These substances can make people ill and create problems in life.
There are more incidents of violence, accidents, and difficulties at school or work.
Young people and those in vulnerable situations are at greater risk.
The mayor sees these problems in their municipality and must assist with other services.
2. Operational Contributions
The guide explains how the mayor can act in their municipality.
First, it is necessary to look at local problems, risk areas, and target groups.
Then, a plan of action must be developed with local partners.
Le guide donne des exemples d’actions dans les écoles, les fêtes et les services municipaux.
Il donne aussi des idées pour aider les agents municipaux en difficulté avec une addiction.
Enfin, il montre comment demander des financements pour ces actions.
Points clés en FALC
Objectifs de la lutte contre les addictions
Protéger les jeunes en retardant les premières consommations.
Réduire les consommations chez tous les habitants.
Limiter les conséquences sur la santé, la sécurité et la vie sociale.
Diagnostic local
Observer où et comment les habitants consomment des produits.
Repérer les lieux de vente, les points de deal et les lieux de fêtes.
Parler avec les habitants et les professionnels pour comprendre la situation.
Prévention chez les jeunes
Agir tôt, dès la grossesse et la petite enfance.
Proposer des programmes pour aider les jeunes à mieux gérer leurs émotions.
Informer les parents sur les risques de l’alcool, du cannabis et des écrans.
Fêtes et vie nocturne
Encadrer les ventes d’alcool lors des fêtes et des événements.
Prévoir des transports pour éviter les accidents de la route.
Limiter les nuisances pour les voisins et protéger les personnes vulnérables.
Agents municipaux
Informer les agents sur les risques liés aux drogues et à l’alcool.
Mettre des règles claires pour l’alcool et le tabac au travail.
Proposer une aide aux personnes qui ont une addiction.