 20 years ago I joined the MCDA from Italy where I had been working as a sociologist in drug addiction services. I adapted very quickly to this lovely country, Portugal, and to working in a multicultural environment. Since joining the agency I have worked in several areas including drug treatment demand, gender and social exclusion. My focus now is on monitoring drugs and prison in Europe. I take great satisfaction in seeing how the data collection tools I have helped to define are being used today in Europe and beyond and how they have helped shine a spotlight on issues that were received little attention before. What I enjoy most about my job is collaborating with drug professionals and experts on drug treatment and prison around Europe. These are people who make really a difference to people's lives and our analysis, methods and tools can help them in their daily work.