GAT recognised as a good practice in prison settings

The work of GAT IN Mouraria was highlighted in the report Good Practices in Prison Settings, published by the Civil Society Forum on Drugs, the official advisory body to the European Commission on drug policy.

GAT has been recognised by the Civil Society Forum on Drugs in the EU (CSFD) as an example of good practice in harm reduction, continuity of care and reintegration support for people who use drugs in prison-related contexts.

The recognition is featured in the report Good Practices in Prison Settings – Civil Society Survey, published in May 2026, which brings together 18 practices from 14 countries, showcasing effective, evidence-informed responses that can be adapted and replicated across different European contexts. The CSFD is the official advisory body to the European Commission on drug policy and is composed of 43 expert organisations from across Europe.

The Portuguese practice highlighted in the report is the work developed by GAT IN Mouraria, in Lisbon, supporting people who use drugs and experience severe social vulnerability, including homelessness, social exclusion and precarious legal status. Many of these service users are also at increased risk of contact with the prison system, including due to minor offences or undocumented status.

Continuity of care inside and outside prison

The report highlights GAT IN Mouraria’s integrated model, which combines a fixed-site harm reduction centre with outreach work, in partnership with municipal actors, social workers, peer workers and health professionals.

The intervention includes standard harm reduction services such as needle and syringe programmes, testing and linkage to care. What distinguishes the initiative, according to the CSFD report, is the team’s continued support when service users are in prison, through in-person visits, phone contact, direct economic support for basic needs, and coordination with prison social and health staff.

After release, each person receives a comprehensive clinical and social assessment. Peer workers then support service users in resolving administrative barriers, obtaining identity documents or social benefits, and navigating the healthcare system, with the aim of rebuilding trust, strengthening autonomy and supporting reintegration.

A response rooted in health, dignity and human rights

According to the report, this practice directly addresses one of the main weaknesses in prison-related care: the interruption of health and social support across the prison–community boundary.

The CSFD notes that sharing relevant clinical information, maintaining regular contact during incarceration and providing intensive peer-supported transition after release can significantly improve continuity of treatment. These interventions may also contribute to lowering overdose rates and infectious disease transmission after release, reducing recidivism, and improving adherence to treatment for addiction, HIV and hepatitis C.

The report also highlights the involvement of peers, close coordination with prison health and social teams, and tailored support during re-entry as central elements for the sustainability and positive outcomes of the model.

Structural barriers still require political action

While this recognition is an important milestone, the report also identifies structural challenges that continue to undermine continuity of care in Portugal and across Europe. These include the limited availability and lower quality of harm reduction services inside prisons compared to the community, repeated interruptions in treatment for substance use disorders and chronic infections, and the compounded effects of stigma, social exclusion and precarious legal status on access to care.

In Portugal, the report notes that people leaving prison are not automatically registered with a primary healthcare centre, and many leave without personal documents or a fixed address. This makes continuity of treatment particularly difficult unless specialised services are available to help people navigate these barriers.

For GAT, this recognition reinforces the importance of community-based, integrated and person-centred responses that ensure prison does not become a break in access to health, rights and dignity.

GAT will continue to advocate for evidence-based public policies grounded in harm reduction and human rights, ensuring that no one is left behind — inside or outside the prison system.