Washington D.C., July 1.- In observance of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (June 26), the Pan American Health Organization Mental Health and Substance Use Unit organized a virtual seminar focused on the public health approach to the use of psychoactive substances. Its objective was to inform and discuss the progress observed at the global and regional levels regarding the World Drug Problem within the context of the United Nations General Assembly Special Session, UNGASS 2016, held in New York, 19-21 April.
Among the participating institutions were PAHO/WHO, CICAD-OAS and UNODC-Brazil, who described the UNGASS preparatory process and the scope of the resulting document in the context of public health, globally and in the Americas. National authorities from Panama, Uruguay, Mexico and Colombia discussed the health sector challenges. The Iberoamerican Network of NGOs working in Drug Dependence (RIOD) spoke about the role of civil society organizations in the transition to a comprehensive, balanced and inclusive approach to drug policies.
During the Webinar, with an audience from all over the Americas, participants emphasized the difficulties faced during the UNGASS process, where opposing radical positions were overcome and communication between the various actors involved was maintained to produce a document that reflects global consensus in an inclusive and innovative way. It also reflects flexibility in implementing UN conventions and coherence between the different agencies of the United Nations system, especially regarding drugs and development.
Participants recognized UNGASS contribution to opening the debate towards more balanced policies, as well as to the protection of human rights, the right to health and other related rights, and the coordination between different actors; all of which should translate into concrete initiatives such as access to controlled drugs or nondiscriminatory care.
Public health aspects appear more clearly defined and emphasized in UNGASS final document, which recognizes drug dependence as a health and social problem and recommends public health interventions to reduce the adverse consequences of drug use and the improvement of access to treatment services for problem users.
Among the many challenges to public health highlighted were: prevention systematization, network integration for addressing different psychoactive substances and the most vulnerable populations, monitoring and evaluation of interventions, a balanced allocation of funding and social participation in decision-making on drug policy and health. They emphasized the need to continue creating opportunities for open discussion on the scope and orientation of drug policies with the participation of the health sector and other stakeholders.
