Given the significance of alcohol consumption to health, the World Health Organization (WHO) has prioritized continuous monitoring of alcohol consumption, alcohol-related harm and policy responses in its Member States over the last years. Since 1997, the Management of Substance Abuse team in the WHO Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse has been building the Global Alcohol Database and later the Global Information System on Alcohol and Health, providing a reference source of information for global epidemiological surveillance of alcohol use, alcohol-related problems and alcohol policies, based on passive epidemiological surveillance, and by gathering published and fugitive data and information about key aspects of the alcohol situation in WHO Member States. The Global Information System on Alcohol and Health is overseen by a Steering Committee comprised of representatives from the WHO Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (Canada). The financial support from the Valencian Autonomous Government, Spain is gratefully acknowledged. >>

The framework for alcohol policy in the WHO European Region was endorsed by the fifty-fi fth session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe, in September 2005 in Bucharest, Romania. It is a framework for action, a new milestone in our long-lasting efforts to combat alcohol-related harm in the Region.The framework is designed to succeed the regional action plan. The principal difference is that this new and more concise document presents strategic guidance and policy options, whereas the plan’s approach is based on “prescribed” actions. The core principles and measures in the action plan are, however, expected to be maintained and reinforced, to ensure consistency and continuity. Another important characteristic of the framework is an expanded and more detailed section on Region-wide collaboration, with clearer commitments and a time frame for international action. >>

Drug addicts have a lot in common with other marginalised groups, such as sex workers, people with disabilities and asylum seekers in that many people have never met them and know very little about the realities of their lives. Where there is a void of factual information, stigma and prejudice often rush in to fill the space. This week's report from the UK drugs policy commission, Sinning and Sinned Against: the Stigmatisation of Problem Drug Users, confirms this. The report finds that many people don't like drug users and that this dislike hinders the prospects of social integration and future employment for this group. Read the article >> (Guardian.co.uk)

Tackling Cross-Border Crime: Harmonising European Standards in Criminal Proceedings, The Silken Hotel Brussels, Tuesday 26th October 2010, More information >>

CAC announces that under the Law (128(I)/2000), all prevention and therapy programmes in the governmental, non-governmental, volunteer and private sector, are to be submitted to CAC for approval. The documents for all the progrmmes have to be submitted to CAC until 4th October, 2010. Documents