International Drug Use

Last week, CADCA took part in a critical dialogue about finding a comprehensive and integrated approach to reducing drug demand, supply and trafficking at the 54th session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna, Austria. The UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs, which is composed of fifty-three member states (or countries), is the principal policy-making body within the UN system on drug control issues.

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced this week that alcohol is to blame for just about 4 percent of, or 2.5 million deaths, worldwide annually. AIDS was a close second with 2.1 million deaths in 2009.

While accounts of smuggling across the U.S.-Mexican border and organized cartels and street gangs may be no more than news headlines to some people, substance abuse and substance abuse-related violence remain a harsh reality for many communities along the southern border regions of the United States. To help provide community coalitions and health service providers with the tools they need to address these problems, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy will partner with CADCA and the Mexican government to provide two collaborative, cross-border trainings to this region.

After several instances of violence fueled by substance abuse hit Bermudian communities, local non-profit and government officials decided it was time to bring the coalition model to Bermuda. That's why CADCA announced today that it is partnering with PRIDE Bermuda, a non-profit organization aimed at preventing youth drug use, and with Bermuda's Ministry of Culture and Social Rehabilitation Department for National Drug Control (DNDC), to help build community drug prevention coalitions throughout Bermuda. The partnership was launched today during a press conference in Bermuda.

In an effort to combat the growing problem of drug abuse and addiction around the world, Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack (CA -45) and Congressman Patrick Kennedy (RI-01) today introduced H.Res.1451, a bipartisan resolution praising the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

It takes more than a physical border to stop community leaders on the U.S.-Mexico border from meeting for a good cause. For the 6th consecutive year, El Paso's Rio Grande Safe Communities coalition will be observing International Day Against Drug Abuse (IDADA) by participating in a bi-national event called "Rally on the River." The event, which occurs annually on June 26th to mark this important observance, takes place in Sunland Park, N.M. at Monument Marker 1 – the exact spot where three different states (Chihuahua in Mexico, Texas and New Mexico) meet.

For many years, countries around the world have participated in the June 26 observance of International Day Against Drug Abuse (IDADA). Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1987, this day serves as a reminder of the goals agreed to by Member States of creating an international society free of drug abuse. Now, the observance has been gaining steam here in the United States, with several communities already planning activities during the week of June 26.

For the first time, delegations from all 193 Member States of World Health Organization reached a consensus at the World Health Assembly in Geneva on a resolution to confront the harmful use of alcohol, which contributes to poor health globally, can devastate families and damage the structure of communities.

CADCA Chairman and CEO, Gen. Arthur T. Dean, will discuss the importance of community-based strategies to reduce substance abuse at the 2nd Annual World Forum Against Drugs in Stockholm, Sweden May 24-25.