International Narcotic Control Board Highlights Prevention in Annual Report
INCB has issued its 2009 report. This annual report covers the standard review of how Member States implement the UN conventions on drug control. But every year the INCB adds a thematic chapter. This year is about prevention. Se full report here.
INCB first defines what they regard as the common risk factors (personal factors, family, social factors, gender factors, school factors, community and societal factors and particular factors for vulnerable populations) before considering the appropriate interventions.
Social dimension important
EURAD is very pleased to see such emphasis on the social dimension the drug problem and its causes.
"Risk for drug use most often originates in broad socio-economic factors, and prevention policy needs to advocate social policy at the government level that promotes more equitable access to protective factors for children and families (e.g. anti-poverty and social inclusion initiatives)."
Population based approach
INCB puts forth a fundamental premise for prevention. "Primary prevention strategies need to ensure that attention is given to both whole (or universal) populations as well as targeted (selective) populations."
INCB then reviews existing evidence and best practice in prevention in the different age groups.
INCB Recommendations
1. "Governments should establish a clear focal point and accountability for primary prevention. That will enable primary prevention to assume its proper place alongside secondary and tertiary prevention.
2. Governments should integrate primary prevention into the national drug control strategy and use a public health framework. A public health framework provides a scientific basis for prevention and ensures that the full range of factors that contribute to drug use are addressed.
3. Governments should build capacity for and ensure collaboration and linkage among all government sectors pursuing similar prevention aims. Because a wide variety of factors contribute to drug use and many of those factors also contribute to other kinds of health issues or risk behaviour (e.g. mental health problems, violence, criminality), linkages with other government offices having similar aims will lead to synergies at the government level.
4. Governments should encourage various groups with a stake in prevention (e.g. families, schools, youth agencies and non-governmental organizations, the media, religious groups, police, community coalitions and the private sector) to work together towards the achievement of prevention aims. Limited resources are most effectively and efficiently utilized when relationships are characterized by open communication and commitment to collaboration.
5. Governments should establish mechanisms to improve the understanding of drug use and the factors that influence drug use. It is important that prevention be data-based to the extent possible. Only with a clear understanding of the current extent and nature of drug use is it possible to determine whether prevention initiatives are having the desired effect.
6. Governments should seek to build and disseminate knowledge of best practices within their jurisdictions. Governments must take the lead in preparing and testing innovative local models and adapting approaches that have been shown to work elsewhere, with a view to determining which best practices are locally relevant.
7. Governments should increase their commitment to the evaluation of primary prevention. It is important to have not only the financial resources but also the technical assistance to guide programmers in undertaking evaluation that is both manageable and useful.
8. Governments should develop the primary prevention workforce. That means establishing prevention as a defined field of practice, ensuring adequate initial and ongoing training and promoting practice-based networks.
9. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) should collaborate with others to develop standards against which Governments may measure their efforts in primary prevention. Collaboratively prepared standards can be used as a benchmark for parties intent on continuously improving their primary prevention efforts.
10. UNODC should collaborate with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the International Labour Organization, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, WHO, relevant nongovernmental organizations and the private sector to develop, promote and disseminate resources to help Governments strengthen the quality of their primary prevention work.
