MEETING ON DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION POLICY IN EUROPE TO BE HELD AT VIENNA INTERNATIONAL CENTRE, 5-6 NOVEMBER
Press Release
SOC/NAR/787
MEETING ON DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION POLICY IN EUROPE TO BE HELD AT VIENNA INTERNATIONAL CENTRE, 5-6 NOVEMBER
19981103 (Reissued as received.)VIENNA, 2 November (UN Information Service) -- With the 185 Member States committed to achieve substantial reduction of illicit drug demand, as well as supply, by 2003, experts from some 20 European countries will gather in Vienna from 5 to 6 November to examine drug abuse prevention policy in the region.
The "Drug Prevention and Drug Policy European Conference 98", supported by the Vienna-based United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) and the Austrian Government, is organized by the City of Vienna in cooperation with the European Commission and the Europaforum Vienna Centre for Urban Dialogue.
The Conference will concentrate on how municipal, national, regional and international institutions can work together better to prevent drug abuse. A further focus will be the role of media in awareness raising on drug issues, as well as the need for increased openness to media and grass-roots organizations.
While the therapeutic, educational and political aspects of drug abuse are generally well known, say the organizers, there is little knowledge of experiences and obstacles encountered in integrating a multi-pronged response. The Conference will therefore showcase model projects and studies in the participating countries.
The General Assembly, at its "drug summit" in June, enlisted governments' commitment to implement new strategies and programmes to reduce drug demand by 2003 and called on families, political, religious, educational, sports, business and union leaders, civic organizations and the media to promote productive and fulfilling alternatives to illicit drugs. Assembly members also agreed to make real progress within 10 years to eliminate or significantly reduce poppy, coca and cannabis crops.
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