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

OVERVIEW
3. Overview of drug abuse prevention activity
at a global level
National drug control strategies
A national drug control strategy or plan is an essential instrument for ensuring careful
planning and coordinated action that addresses all aspects of the drug problem and
the interactions between such different areas as law enforcement, health, education
and economic development. Many national drug control strategies or plans have been
adopted or updated to include the goals and targets that emerged from the 1998
UNGASS. Of the 109 Governments which replied to the Biennial Report Questionnaire
(BRQ), 91 (84%) indicated that they had adopted a national drug strategy or plan.
Some Governments specified that, whilst they did have an overall strategy to combat
illicit drugs, it was not laid out or contained in a single, comprehensive action plan. 18
Governments (16%) either did not have a national drug strategy or action plan, or
were in the process of elaborating one. In several countries, ongoing action plans and
strategies were being adjusted to include the goals and approaches adopted at the
UNGASS. Some Governments were receiving assistance in the preparation of their
national plans.
In many cases, national strategic frameworks and programmes place special emphasis
on the synergies and complementarity between control measures, health, and law
enforcement policies and programmes. Those efforts have facilitated the coordination
of law enforcement, prevention, treatment and social reintegration programmes,
resulting in a more balanced approach with greater emphasis on demand reduction.
Strategies for Demand Reduction
A national strategy for drug demand reduction is important for coordinating responses.
In addition, it helps ensure good practice and an approach that balances the measures
to reduce demand and supply enshrined in the Declaration on the Guiding Principles
of Drug Demand Reduction (Box 1). Such a strategy also provides a good basis for
promoting multisectoral and community-wide responses, as called for in the
Declaration. The overwhelming majority of Governments responding to the BRQ - 84%
– reported having a national strategy for demand reduction; 12% reported that they
had none; and the remaining 4% failed to answer this question. The examples given
suggested that some Governments had invested considerable effort in developing
strategic plans, and that there was also a significant overlap between Governments in
respect of the topics covered. The sharing of experiences between Governments in that
area might therefore prove useful.
In many cases, demand reduction strategies appeared to be incorporated into national
drug strategies that embraced both demand and supply issues. The question of the
right balance remains, as does the extent to which a national strategy has an impact
on practice. However, 68% of the Governments that reported a national strategy
pointed out that it incorporated the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction (Box
1); this suggests that their national strategic planning took into account the agreed
principles of good practice. 12% of Governments reported that their strategic planning
did not incorporate the Guiding Principles, and a further 20% did not respond – possibly
because there was some uncertainty about how far their national strategies did reflect
the Guiding Principles. Whilst these figures still leave room for improvement in both
the number of Governments with a national demand reduction strategy and the
number of those with a strategic response that incorporates the Guiding Principles, it
is encouraging that the issue elicits a positive response from so many Governments.
“A national drug control
strategy or plan is an
essential instrument for
ensuring careful planning
and coordinated action
that addresses all aspects
of the drug problem and
the interactions between
such different areas as
law enforcement, health,
education and economic
development.”
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