PDF (Lessons learned in drug abuse prevention: a global review)

INTRODUCTION
1.2 Aims and objectives of the report:
This report is not based on a review of existing literature on what is effective and what
is not, as such reviews have already been undertaken by a variety of national research
institutions around the world (see 1.6). Instead, the report reviews a large number of
projects in the area of drug abuse prevention, and asks those who are or have been
directly involved in their planning, management and implementation to give their view
of what they have learned from their work, based on their own experience. This report
highlights some of the lessons that have been learned and provides recommendations
on what to take into account when planning and developing drug abuse prevention
policies as well as practice.
The overall aim of this report is to help countries achieve the goals of the 1998
UNGASS Political Declaration, and to make real progress in reversing the growing trend
of drug abuse in their populations by the year 2008. This report is geared towards
assisting policy makers, planners and practitioners working in the field of drug abuse
prevention to develop and implement effective practice, based on the lessons learned
from practical experience.
Through the production and dissemination of this report, the aim is to:
● Promote sound practice and policy based on the practical experience of others
● Disseminate innovative ideas and promising approaches to those planning drug
abuse prevention initiatives
● Stimulate more cost – and practice-effective approaches in drug abuse prevention
● Encourage a greater exchange of information between developing and developed
countries
This report focuses on highlighting some of the key lessons learned in drug
abuse prevention rather than demonstrating and pointing out what is effective
or what 'works'. The aim is to learn from the experiences and work processes of
others by sharing information, and to provide common ground for interaction
and discussion in order to tackle the drug abuse problem.
“This report is geared
towards assisting policy
makers, planners and
practitioners working in
the field of drug abuse
prevention to develop
and implement effective
practice, based on the
lessons learned from
practical experience.”
1.3 Who is this report for?
1.3.1 Policy makers
This report is for those working at the planning and decision-making level on national,
regional or local drug abuse prevention strategies and policies. This includes those
acting from governmental departments such as Ministries of Health, Ministries of
Education, Ministries of Youth and Family, Ministries of Social Welfare, and National
Drug Boards, Narcotic Control Commissions or any other departments dealing with
issues affecting the health and wellbeing of children and young people.
● How will this report help policy makers?
Extensive efforts have been made, and continue to be made, by Governments at all
levels to suppress the illicit production, trafficking, distribution and consumption of
drugs. With recent emphasis being placed on policies and strategies for demand
reduction, policy makers find themselves faced with yet another challenge on their
drug agenda. The UNGASS Political Declaration states that the most effective approach
to the drug problem consists of a comprehensive, balanced and coordinated approach
by which supply control and demand reduction reinforce one other. There is, therefore,
a need to intensify efforts to reduce demand for illicit drugs, and to provide adequate
resources to do so. In order to achieve this, policy makers will not only need financial
input from their Governments or departments, but will also require technical assistance 3