Alcohol, Drugs and Addictive Behaviours
The Unit works globally to improve health and well-being of populations by articulating, promoting, supporting and monitoring evidence-informed policies, strategies and interventions to reduce the burden associated with alcohol, drugs and addictive behaviours.
Governance and mandates to reduce the harmful use of alcohol
The Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol
The Global Strategy was endorsed by the Sixty-third World Health Assembly in May 2010 (Resolution WHA63.13). The Global Strategy and Health Assembly Resolution represent the commitment by WHO Member States to sustained action at all levels.
Read more here
The Sustainable Development Goals
Target 3.5 of Agenda 2030 includes the objective of strengthening the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including harmful use of alcohol. This reflects the broader impact of harmful alcohol use on health beyond NCDs – in areas such as mental health, violence, road traffic injuries and infectious diseases.
Read more here
WHO Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of NCDs
The NCD global action plan lists the harmful use of alcohol as one of five key risk factors for major NCDs. The action plan enables Member States and other stakeholders to identify and use opportunities for synergies to tackle more than one risk factor at the same time,
Read more here
Mental Health Policy Frameworks
Alcohol can contribute to developing mental health conditions or make them worse and mental health conditions can lead to alcohol use disorders. As such alcohol is integrated into WHO`s mental health policies.
Read more here
Key politically endorsed documents
In May 2010, the 193 Member States of WHO reached an historical consensus on a global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol.
26 October 2017
Tackling NCDs: 'best buys' and other recommended interventions for the prevention and control of noncommunicable...
This document provides policy-makers with a list of ‘best buys’ and other recommended interventions to address noncommunicable diseases (NCDs)...
14 November 2013
Global action plan for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases 2013-2020
The WHO Global NCD action plan 2013–2020 follows on from commitments made by Heads of State and Government in the United Nations Political Declaration...
Governance news
WHO Governing bodies processes on alcohol
From 1951 till today