Management of substance abuse

Bangkok, Thailand, 13-15 February 2012.

Global Alcohol Policy Conference 2012

The Global Alcohol Policy Conference was held between 13-15 February 2012 at the Impact Conference Centre in Nonthaburi, Thailand. The conference was organized by the Thai Ministry of Public Health, with WHO, the Global Alcohol Policy Alliance and the Thai Health Promotion Foundation as co-hosts. The conference was attended by some 1120 participants from 59 countries. A broad range of stakeholders were present; government representatives, parliamentarians, NGOs, researchers, activists and representatives from the media.

Vienna | March 23, 2011

The WHO ASSIST package

The World Health Organization has launched the ASSIST package developed to help the health professionals to detect and manage hazardous and harmful use of psychoactive substances in health care settings.
This package also includes a guide developed to assist patients who are at risk because of their substance use to weigh up their substance use behavior and to change it using self-help strategies.

Geneva | 11 February, 2011

Global status report on alcohol and health 2011

The Global status report on alcohol and health (2011) presents a comprehensive perspective on the global, regional and country consumption of alcohol, patterns of drinking, health consequences and policy responses in Member States. It represents a continuing effort by the World Health Organization (WHO) to support Member States in collecting information in order to assist them in their efforts to reduce the harmful use of alcohol, and its health and social consequences.

fact buffet

Alcohol consumption

55%of adults have consumed alcohol

WHO Global Information System

Harmful use of alcohol

2.5 millionpeople die from it in a year

WHO Global Status Report 2011

Reducing the harm

10broad policy options are available

WHO Global Strategy

News

  • 19 April 2011

    WHO Participation in the 54th Session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs

    The fifty-fourth session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) was held in Vienna 21-25 March 2011. A number of resolutions were discussed and adopted on issues regarding drugs and crime. The WHO actively participated in this CND annual session and its related events and discussions.

  • 11 March 2011

    UN, Pakistan join forces to protect health of people with drug dependence

    11 March, 2011 | Islamabad - To reduce the health and social impacts of drug dependence in Pakistan, the United Nations and Pakistani authorities have joined forces to ensure drug users have access to appropriate treatment and care.

  • 11 February 2011

    Action needed to reduce health impact of harmful alcohol use

    Wider implementation of policies is needed to save lives and reduce the health impact of harmful alcohol drinking, says a new report launched today by WHO. Harmful use of alcohol results in the death of 2.5 million people annually, causes illness and injury to many more, and increasingly affects younger generations and drinkers in developing countries.

  • 2 February 2011

    First WHO global counterparts meeting on alcohol

    In 2010 the World Health Assembly endorsed the Global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol. A global network of WHO national counterparts is established to ensure effective collaboration and consultations with Member States on implementing the global strategy. The WHO Secretariat is hosting the first meeting of this global network in Geneva from 8 to 11 February. The aim of the meeting is to discuss and elaborate implementation mechanisms and plans for the strategy.

  • 13 December 2010

    ATLAS 2010: First global report on substance use disorders launched

    To better prevent and treat alcohol and illicit drug use disorders, the World Health Organization has launched the first global report on resources currently in use to respond to these health concerns. The Atlas on substance abuse: Resources for the prevention and treatment of substance use disorders has collected information from 147 countries, representing 88% of the world's population. It has a particular focus on low- and middle-income countries.

The Global Information System on Alcohol and Health

The Global Information System on Alcohol and Health (GISAH) provides easy and rapid access to a wide range of alcohol-related health indicators. It is an essential tool for assessing and monitoring the health situation and trends related to alcohol consumption, alcohol-related harm, and policy responses in countries.

This web site contains information pertaining to psychoactive substance use and abuse, and also information about the World Health Organization's projects and activities in the areas of substance use and substance dependence.

WHO is the only agency dealing with all psychoactive substances, regardless of their legal status. WHO’s mandate in the area of psychoactive substance use includes:

  • Prevention and reduction of the negative health and social consequences of psychoactive substance use;
  • Reduction of the demand for non-medical use of psychoactive substances;
  • Assessment of psychoactive substances so as to advise the United Nations with regard to their regulatory control.

Since its founding in 1948, WHO has played a leading role in supporting countries to prevent and reduce the problems due to psychoactive substance use, and in recommending which psychoactive substances should be regulated. In 2000, the Department of Substance Abuse was merged with the Department of Mental Health to form the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, reflecting the many common approaches of management of mental health and substance use disorders.


WHO REFERENCES

WHO Resolutions Related to Substance Use

For more information

WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence

For more information

WHO Expert Committee on Problems Related to Alcohol Consumption

For more information

UN REFERENCES

UN International Drug Control Conventions

For more information

UN Key Declarations

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