Policies, education and mobilization
Despite the enormity of the challenge, evidence and experience strongly suggest that substance use problems can be reduced. Such efforts require the political will to tackle the problems and a smart mix of government policies, education activities, and mobilization of communities and NGOs. Particular attention should focus on implementing evidenced-based strategies, which necessarily include interventions to reduce the availability and the affordability of alcohol and illicit drugs.
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.
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.
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.
World Health Assembly set to discuss alcohol
The Health ministers from all over the world will discuss the health burden of alcohol in the forthcoming World Health Assembly to be held in Geneva 14-23 May. This is the follow up of the WHA resolution 58.26 Public health problems caused by harmful use of alcohol, from 2005, the first WHA resolution exclusively on alcohol since 1983. The documents for the alcohol issue are now available on the WHO site.
New legislation in Sri Lanka
- The new Parliament Act on alcohol and tobacco control is a major breakthrough for public health promotion in Sri Lanka. And just as important, we have experienced how youth of a country can be a powerful force that can be effectively mobilized to take care of public health policies, says Pubudu Sumanasekara, the director of ADIC, the Alcohol and Drug Information Centre in Colombo.
Sri Lanka
New legislation backdrop for alcohol conference
The new Tobacco and Alcohol Act just implemented made a perfect backdrop when FORUT Sri Lanka invited for the conference Alcohol: No ordinary commodity in Colombo in December.
Sri Lankan youth mobilizing in support of new Alcohol Act
The new Sri Lankan youth organization, 4U, is now mobilizing young people in support of the new Tobacco and Alcohol Act. They have started a signature campaign to collect one million signatures for an effective implementation of the new regulations on sale and promotion of alcohol and tobacco. A rather unique action, which has not been seen in many countries before.
Appeal to WHO: Framework Convention on Alcohol Control
The American Public Health Alliance (APHA) has urged the World Health Organization to adopt and implement a binding international treaty modelled after the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
EU Process leads to alcohol strategy
Based two reports and an extensive consultation process the European Commission on October 24 adopted a Communication setting out a strategy to support Member States in reducing alcohol-related harm.
FORUT contributes in WHO online survey
In September WHO asked NGOs and other stakeholders to contribute their views on two questions related to alcohol and public health: 1) The magnitude of health related problems related to alcohol consumption and 2) Effective interventions to reduce health problems related to alcohol consumption. Read FORUTs contribution here.
