Your gateway to information about alcohol and drugs as a development issue.
UNGASS 2009: UN review of international conventions on narcotic drugs
The United Nations has started a process to assess the results of the international efforts to combat illicit drugs and to review the international conventions on narcotic drugs. The process will be completed with a special session of the UN General Assembly (UNGASS) in New York in 2009.
FORUT: Plan for Alcohol and Drug Prevention in Malawi
The first plan for FORUTs cooperation with Malawi has now been approved. Prevention of alcohol and drug problems is the main focus of the plan, linked to critical issues in Malawi like HIV/AIDS and gender-based violence.
UNODC: Significant and positive changes in world drugs markets
- Whereas a few years ago the world appeared to be heading for an epidemic of drug abuse, growing evidence suggests that the problem is being brought under control. This was the conclusion of the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Antonio Maria Costa, when the 2007 edition of the World Drug Report was presented in Vienna.
Editorial in The Lancet calls for a Framework Convention on Alcohol Control
The influential medical journal The Lancet has in a recent editorial called for a Framework Convention on Alcohol Control. The journal says that next year's World Health Assembly provides a crucial opportunity for WHO and member states to make those first steps towards a global treaty to reduce alcohol-related harm.
Alcohol controversial item at World Health Assembly
The World Health Assembly in Geneva in May discussed strategies to reduce alcohol-related harm. In spite of broad support from many of the WHO member countries to a resolution calling for global action on the harmful use of alcohol, the discussion ended in a stalemate. The WHO Executive Board will take up the issue again in its meeting in January next year.
New tool kit for development agencies
A new tool kit for development agencies was presented by FORUT at a conference in Oslo today. The tools shall make it easier for NGOs and governments to include aspects of alcohol and drug prevention in their programs and projects. This web site is one of the tools in the new kit.
UN Anti-Drugs Campaign to be launched on the 26th of June
African Journal: Role of substance abuse in the African HIV/AIDS epidemic
The latest issue of the African Journal of Drug and Alcohol studies is devoted to broadening the knowledge base on the role of alcohol and drugs in the spreading of HIV/AIDS in Africa. New research material is presented from Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia.
A chequered year for drug control
2006 was a mixed year for international drug control, with both good and bad news. This is the conclusion of UNODC – The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime – in their Annual Report 2007, which covers activities in 2006.
WHO Expert Committee Report
Today the report from the WHO Expert Committee on Problems Related to Alcohol Consumption was presented. The Commitee urges the World Health Organization to continue to play a leading role in coordinating a global response to the global nature of alcohol problems. It also recommends that WHO continue its practice of no collaboration with the alcohol industry.
