CADCA Participates in Fifty Third Session of United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs

CADCA is one of 54 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) participating in the 53rd session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs taking place in Vienna, Austria this week. The Commission, which is composed of fifty-three member states (or countries), is the principal policy-making body within the UN system on drug control issues. CADCA has a four-person delegation at the Vienna meeting, headed by CADCA Chairman and CEO, General Arthur Dean.

CADCA will take part in plenary and informal discussions, and will be providing a presentation to delegates about the effectiveness of community coalitions and their impact on substance abuse issues.

During the meeting, which began on Monday, March 8, the U.S. delegation, led by R. Gil Kerlikowske, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, submitted a strong resolution supporting community-based drug use prevention to the UN Commission on Narcotics Drugs. Five member states, including Indonesia, Israel, Colombia, Thailand and Mexico, co-sponsored the resolution. The US resolution calls on member states to develop drug use prevention efforts that involve multiple sectors of the community through the creation of community coalitions. It also urges member states to fund community-based drug use prevention efforts that include training and the implementation of evidence based strategies.

CADCA wholeheartedly supports this important resolution.

“We are pleased that the U.S. Delegation has introduced a resolution which acknowledges the importance of multi-sector community-based prevention. We know that community coalitions throughout the United States are making serious inroads into their local drug problems and other countries can benefit from the use of evidence-based community coalitions,” said CADCA Chairman and CEO General Arthur Dean. ”I encourage member states to adopt this resolution and work to support effective anti-drug coalitions in their countries.”

CADCA is currently involved in working with community groups in eight foreign countries to help them build effective anti-drug coalitions. In addition, CADCA enjoys “special consultative status” with the UN and effective this week was elected to membership in the Vienna NGO Committee.