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Sunday, March 23, 2003
UN, WHO-backed seminar against drug abuse held
THE United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) sponsored an experience-sharing seminar on Global Initiative on Primary Prevention of Substance Abuse at the Waterfront Insular Hotel in Lanang, Davao City last March 18-21.
Local officials who graced the opening ceremony were Judge Adoracion Avisado of the Special Drugs Court in Davao City, Councilor Angela Librado, chairperson, Committee on Women and Children, Family Relations, lawyer Eliseo Braganza, action officer, Anti-Drugs Abuse Council, Davao City, Ms. Lilia Dulay, Dangerous Drugs Board, Manila, and Bernardo Mondragon of Kabataan Consortium of Davao City.
The program is being implemented in eight countries - Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Belarus, Russia, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia.
In an interview with Katie Walker, UNDCP/WHO South East Asia Field Coordinator, she said the program aims to prevent substance abuse of illicit drugs among young people. She also said that they are documenting experiences to be able to disseminate what works and what doesn't work in preventing youth substance abuse.
They also plan to publish a booklet that summarizes the best practices in using alternate activities for prevention as a result of the meetings held in other regions, which will be synthesized with other research tools.
Walker said that among the factors that contribute to youth substance abuse are poverty, lack of access to education and lack of a supportive family or community environment.
The Global initiative is an approach to substance abuse prevention to make it possible for young people to live healthy and productive lives. This is promoted through alternative activities such as sports, art, drama, vocational skills and income generation.
As of now, 13 project partners in the Philippines have received support and small amounts of funding to implement the wide range of activities. RCB
(March 23, 2003 issue)
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