Michel Perron

Mythbusting Canada’s Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines / Démystifier les directives de consommation d’alcool à faible risque du Canada

2011-12-13T09:36:00.009-05:00

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It was a proud day at the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA) when we announced the first pan-Canadian low-risk alcohol drinking guidelines on November 25. Months of hard work and cooperation between CCSA and our NASAC partners culminated in a very successful launch, with federal and provincial health ministers—together with Canadian health organizations, police organizations and the alcohol industry—supporting Canada’s Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines. The Guidelines also received extensive media coverage in the Toronto Star’s Atkinson Series: Women and Alcohol.

While public reaction has been mostly positive, there are a few recurring misconceptions, which I will devote this blog entry to clearing up.

Myth 1: The Guidelines encourage alcohol consumption.
Not true. The Guidelines are exactly as their name suggests: guidelines. They clearly emphasize that drinking is a personal choice; if you do choose to drink, the Guidelines are here to help you reduce your risk of alcohol-related harm.

Myth 2: You can save your weekly limit to use on the weekend.
Not true. The Guidelines provide separate daily and weekly limits, allowing for a couple of non-drinking days to avoid forming a habit. The weekly limits of 10 drinks for women and 15 drinks for men can’t be saved up for a weekend party. The Guidelines do make allowances for occasional special events—learn more here.

Myth 3: According to the Guidelines, women can drink up to two pints of beer and men can drink up to three pints.
Not true. The Guidelines define a ‘drink’ as 12 oz. of beer, 5 oz. of wine or 1.5 oz. of spirits. Pints served in bars are usually 20 oz. (half-pints are 12. oz.), so you need to take this into consideration. Ask your server about drink size when ordering beer, wine or spirits.

Myth 4: People who drink more than the Guidelines recommend must be alcoholics.
Not true. Alcoholism is a complex and serious health condition. If you are worried about your drinking or that of someone close to you, consult a doctor. For more information about this and where to find additional resources, consult the Canadian Treatment Services page on the CCSA website.

So while we are very proud with the launch of Canada’s Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines, simply issuing them does not make them part of Canadians’ lives. The tough work really lies ahead. We need to encourage Canadians to re-think their relationship with alcohol and how they might need to adjust their behaviour accordingly.

We know that we face a lot of resistance to do so. Our society is bombarded with a slew of “do this and don’t do that” advice, and quite often this information conflicts with our personal knowledge and views. Whether sugar, calories, salt, helmets, speeding or alcohol, Canadians already have a defined view on these topics.

The Guidelines are meant to help Canadians inform themselves so they can make their own decisions with the best information available. Canada has a good share of drinkers—80% of us drink alcohol. Our hope is that through the Guidelines, Canadian drinkers will become informed drinkers. We can then work together from there.

I welcome any comments and thoughts you have on Canada’s Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines.

Démystifier les directives de consommation d’alcool à faible risque du Canada

Que de fierté le 25 novembre dernier au Centre canadien de lutte contre l'alcoolisme et les toxicomanies (CCLAT) avec la publication des premières directives de consommation d'alcool à faible risque du Canada. Des mois de travail ardu et de coopération entre le CCLAT et ses partenaires du CCSNA ont abouti à un lancement très réussi, où les ministres fédéral et provinciaux de la Santé – et des organismes de santé, des organisations policières et l'industrie des boissons alcoolisées au pays – ont donné leur appui aux directives. Les directives ont aussi été largement médiatisées dans une série du Toronto Star appelée Atkinson Series: Women and Alcohol.

Le public a bien répondu de façon générale, mais certaines idées erronées subsistent; ce billet me permettra de les dissiper.

Mythe 1 : Les directives encouragent la consommation d'alcool.
C'est faux. Tout est dans le nom : ce sont des directives. Elles indiquent clairement que boire de l'alcool est un choix personnel, et si vous choisissez de boire, elles vous aideront à réduire votre risque de subir des méfaits.

Mythe 2 : Après une semaine sans alcool, vous pouvez boire votre limite hebdomadaire pendant la fin de semaine.
C'est faux. Les directives établissent des limites quotidiennes et hebdomadaires distinctes et recommandent quelques jours sans alcool pour éviter de développer une habitude. Les limites hebdomadaires de 10 verres pour les femmes et de 15 pour les hommes ne peuvent être « gardées en réserve » pour une fête un vendredi soir. Les directives prennent toutefois en compte certaines occasions spéciales – plus de renseignements ici.

Mythe 3 : Selon les directives, les femmes peuvent boire jusqu'à deux pintes de bière et les hommes, jusqu'à trois pintes.
C'est faux. Dans les directives, un « verre » correspond à 12 oz de bière, 5 oz de vin et 1,5 oz de spiritueux. Il ne faut pas oublier que les pintes servies dans les bars contiennent habituellement 20 oz (12 oz pour une demi-pinte). Quand vous commandez de la bière, du vin ou des spiritueux, demandez au serveur la quantité que contiennent les verres.

Mythe 4 : Les personnes dont la consommation dépasse les directives sont sûrement alcooliques.
C'est faux. L'alcoolisme est une affection grave et complexe. Si votre consommation ou celle d'un proche vous préoccupe, parlez-en avec un médecin. Pour en savoir plus et pour trouver d'autres ressources sur le sujet, consultez la page Services de traitement au Canada sur le site Internet du CCLAT.

Donc, malgré la fierté que nous en retirons, le simple fait de publier les directives de consommation d'alcool à faible risque du Canada n'en fait pas une partie intégrante de la vie des Canadiens. Le plus difficile reste à faire. Nous devons inciter les Canadiens à revoir leur relation avec l'alcool et à déterminer si leur comportement devrait changer.

Nous sommes conscients que nous rencontrerons de la résistance. La société nous bombarde d'un tas de conseils sur ce qu'il faut faire et ne pas faire et, souvent, cette information va à l'encontre de nos connaissances et de nos opinions. Qu'on parle de sucre, de calories, de sel, de casques de vélo, de vitesse ou d'alcool, les Canadiens ont déjà un avis tranché sur ces questions.

Le but des directives est d'aider les Canadiens à s'informer et ainsi à pouvoir faire des choix éclairés selon les meilleurs renseignements disponibles. Une bonne partie de la population canadienne boit : en effet, 80 % d'entre nous buvons de l'alcool. Ce que nous souhaitons, c'est qu'avec les directives, les Canadiens deviennent des buveurs avertis. Nous pourrons collaborer à partir de là.

Si vous avez des commentaires ou des réflexions sur les directives de consommation d'alcool à faible risque du Canada, n'hésitez pas à me les envoyer.

Fostering partnerships with NGOs / Favoriser les partenariats avec les ONG

2011-11-22T11:30:00.020-05:00

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While my last few blog posts have concentrated on our recent (and very successful) Issues of Substance conference, the week leading up to that event was an equally exciting time for me. I flew to Buenos Aires, Argentina, to attend the 50th session of CICAD. For those of you not familiar with CICAD (a Spanish acronym), its title in English is the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission. CICAD is the technical body responsible for drug matters for the Organization of American States (OAS). It is composed of all democratically elected governments of the Americas.

I went to Buenos Aires to encourage CICAD member states to embrace a more specific and strategic partnership with NGOs. While we know that many countries in the Americas have strong relations with NGOs, there is definitely room for improvement—and I thought CICAD was as good a place as any to start.

Advancing NGO issues in this forum requires a good understanding of CICAD itself as well as a ‘soft diplomacy’ approach. I took advantage of a lunch with Mr. José Miguel Insulza, Secretary General of the OAS, to ask him about this very topic. In short, he stated that “a deeper discussion should take place regarding the feasibility and appropriateness of including civil society in the context of CICAD”.

Perfect! That is precisely the type of direction I would like to see CICAD officially embrace. To do so will take some time, but I am confident we can achieve something not unlike the excellent relationships we have with UNODC, INCB and others. Included below is the intervention I made, which I will take up with the CICAD Secretariat. I welcome your comments and suggestions.

STATEMENT BY THE CANADIAN CENTRE ON SUBSTANCE ABUSE to the 50th Session of CICAD

Favoriser les partenariats avec les ONG

Si les derniers billets de mon blogue ont surtout porté sur notre récente (et très fructueuse) conférence Questions de substance, la semaine précédant la conférence a aussi été très excitante pour moi. Je me suis rendu à Buenos Aires, en Argentine, pour assister à la 50e séance de la CICAD. Pour ceux qui ne connaissent pas la CICAD (un acronyme en espagnol), il s’agit en français de la Commission interaméricaine de lutte contre l’abus des drogues. La CICAD est l’organisme technique chargé des questions relatives à la drogue pour l’Organisation des États américains (OEA). Elle se compose de tous les gouvernements élus démocratiquement des Amériques.

En allant à Buenos Aires, je voulais inciter les États membres de la CICAD à envisager le partenariat avec les ONG sous un angle plus spécifique et stratégique. Nous savons que de nombreux pays des Amériques ont des liens solides avec les ONG, mais on pourrait certainement faire mieux, et je crois que la CICAD est un bon point de départ pour y arriver.

Faire avancer les dossiers des ONG à cette tribune nécessite une bonne compréhension de la CICAD ainsi qu’une certaine « diplomatie d’influence ». J’ai profité d’un dîner avec M. José Miguel Insulza, secrétaire général de l’OEA, pour aborder la question avec lui. En résumé, il croit qu’il faudrait discuter en détail de la faisabilité et de la pertinence d’inclure la société civile dans le contexte de la CICAD.

C’est parfait! Voilà exactement la sorte d’orientation que, selon moi, la CICAD devrait officiellement adopter. Y arriver prendra du temps, mais je sais que nous pouvons nouer des liens comparables aux excellentes relations que nous avons avec l’ONUDC, l’OICS et d’autres. Vous trouverez ci-dessous mon allocution, que je présenterai au secrétariat de la CICAD. Si vous avez des commentaires et des suggestions, n’hésitez pas à me les envoyer.

ALLOCUTION DU CENTRE CANADIEN DE LUTTE CONTRE L’ALCOOLISME ET LES TOXICOMANIES à la 50e séance de la CICAD

Recognizing National Addictions Awareness Week / Souligner la Semaine nationale de sensibilisation aux toxicomanies

2011-11-14T11:12:00.008-05:00

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One of the results we always see following our Issues of Substance (IOS) conference – held last week in Vancouver – is that delegates leave with a sense of hope mixed with recognition of the many challenges associated with addictions.

One of the greatest challenges is increasing awareness that addiction is a disease. National Addictions Awareness Week (NAAW) – held November 14-20 in Canada – presents an opportunity to help Canadians learn about the harm caused by addiction to alcohol, drugs and other substances among individuals in all walks of life. Education is the first step in creating a more supportive environment for those who struggle with addiction issues so they can recover and resume their place as full contributors to our society.

NAAW focuses on the harm caused by alcohol, drugs, tobacco and gambling, and raises public awareness of addiction issues so that communities can respond and help those who struggle with addictions.

NAAW also coincides with National Aboriginal Addictions Awareness Week. We heard so many uplifting stories about new and exciting programs being used to treat Aboriginal people at the IOS conference last week that it is hard not to feel optimistic that we will soon be able to reduce the burden that so many First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities bear.

Communities and organizations across the country are holding events and activities to mark National Addictions Awareness Week. I encourage you to get involved. You’ll find more information on the CCSA website.

Souligner la Semaine nationale de sensibilisation aux toxicomanies

Au terme de notre conférence Questions de substance – dont la plus récente édition s’est tenue la semaine dernière à Vancouver – nous notons invariablement chez les délégués un sentiment d’espoir combiné à une reconnaissance des nombreux défis que posent les dépendances.

L’un des plus grands défis à relever est d’accroître la visibilité de la dépendance en tant que maladie. Tenue du 14 au 20 novembre au Canada, la Semaine nationale de sensibilisation aux toxicomanies (SNST) permet d’informer la population canadienne des méfaits que cause la dépendance à l’alcool, aux drogues et aux autres substances chez des gens de tous horizons. La sensibilisation est la première étape pour pouvoir offrir aux personnes toxicomanes un environnement positif où elles pourront se rétablir, prendre leur place dans la société et y contribuer pleinement.

La SNST se penche sur les méfaits causés par l’alcool, les drogues, le tabac et le jeu et vise aussi, en sensibilisant le public aux questions de toxicomanie, à aider les collectivités à intervenir et à appuyer les personnes dans leur combat contre la dépendance.
La SNST coïncide aussi avec la Semaine nationale de sensibilisation aux toxicomanies chez les Autochtones. La semaine dernière, pendant Questions de substance, nous avons entendu tant d’histoires inspirantes sur des programmes nouveaux et passionnants utilisés dans le traitement des Autochtones que je ne peux m’empêcher d’espérer que nous pourrons bientôt alléger le fardeau de nombreuses communautés inuites, métisses et des Premières nations.

Des collectivités et des organisations de tous les pays tiennent des activités et des événements soulignant la Semaine nationale de sensibilisation aux toxicomanies. Je vous invite à y participer. Pour en savoir plus, consultez le site Web du CCLAT.

Let’s keep these ‘conversations of substance’ going! / Poursuivons ces « conversations de substance »!

2011-11-09T15:22:00.014-05:00

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It’s been a wonderful few days in Vancouver filled with stimulating workshops, presentations and panel discussions at the Issues of Substance Conference . Once again, I am struck by the depth of commitment that I see among the many experts and practitioners working in the substance abuse field in Canada. I have enjoyed catching up with colleagues and friends from across the country.

Many of our colleagues were not able to attend this year’s conference because of reduced travel budgets as organizations across the country struggle to deliver services in tough economic times. Let’s make sure they don’t miss out on the benefits of IOS 2011.

We have spoken at length at IOS about how we can all learn from each other and benefit from sharing best practices. The importance of knowledge transfer has been one of the major undercurrents of our meeting this year.

As we head for home, I remind everyone who attended IOS that you have a responsibility to continue the knowledge transfer that we have engaged in over the last few days with your peers at home. Share the papers you have picked up. Continue the dialogue that you started in Vancouver, whether it’s over a coffee during a break, or during meetings and lectures in your clinics, classrooms or offices. Let’s make sure that the thought provoking discussions we have had over the last few days reach a broader audience so that we can continue to improve how we help the many Canadians who struggle with addiction and substance abuse issues.

Poursuivons ces « conversations de substance »!

Les derniers jours passés à Vancouver ont été remplis d’ateliers, de discussions et d’exposés passionnants à l’occasion de la conférence Questions de substance. Encore une fois, je suis sidéré par l’intensité de l’engagement des experts et praticiens travaillant en toxicomanie au pays. Ce fut un plaisir de revoir des collègues et amis de partout au pays.

Certains de nos collègues n’ont pu se joindre à nous, car plusieurs organisations ont dû limiter leurs budgets de déplacement pour pouvoir continuer à offrir des services en cette période économique difficile. Assurons-nous donc qu’ils profitent des avantages de Questions de substance 2011.

Tout au long de la conférence, nous avons longuement parlé des façons d’apprendre les uns des autres et des avantages de l’échange de bonnes pratiques. Cette année, l’une des principales trames de fond était l’importance du transfert des connaissances.

Nous allons bientôt rentrer, alors je tiens à rappeler aux participants que vous vous devez de poursuivre l’échange des connaissances des derniers jours avec vos collègues. Faites circuler les documents que vous avez recueillis. Continuez le dialogue amorcé à Vancouver, que ce soit autour d’une tasse de café pendant une pause ou lors d’une réunion ou d’une conférence à votre clinique, votre bureau ou dans votre salle de classe. Assurons-nous que les discussions stimulantes des derniers jours rejoignent un plus grand public, pour que nous puissions continuer à améliorer l’aide que nous donnons aux nombreux Canadiens aux prises avec des problèmes de toxicomanie et d’abus de substances.

Awareness & education important for Canada’s opioid problem / Résoudre le problème d’opioïdes au Canada passe par la sensibilisation et le traitement

2011-11-08T20:28:00.001-05:00

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We’ve all heard about the problems associated with the abuse of prescription drugs, but evidence presented today at the Issues of Substance 2011 Conference (IOS) in Vancouver has shone new light on this troubling issue.

Research conducted by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Ontario shows that in 2009 the prevalence of the use of opioids such as oxycodone among Ontario high school students surpassed tobacco use. Today, Wayne Skinner of CAMH shared a project, developed by his colleagues Jennifer Barr and Christine Bois, to address opioid issues. Their OpiATE Project puts the focus on Awareness, Treatment and Education in response to Ontario’s problematic opioid addiction.

While increased rates of opioid dependence, pharmacy break-ins and deaths have provoked rising public alarm about opioid problems in Ontario, this type of problem isn’t isolated to Ontario. Canada is the third largest consumer of opiates. While it’s critical to have access to these essential medicines, we also must be aware and prevent their abuse.

With support from Public Safety Canada, CCSA is prepared to advance national action on this issue by working with its partners to develop a comprehensive response to prescription drug misuse, abuse and diversion in Canada. CCSA will convene a national dialogue on this topic in Ottawa in early 2012. We’ll keep you posted on our progress on this important issue.

I also encourage you to keep an eye on our http://www.issuesofsubstance.ca/ website, as we’ll be posting our speakers’ presentations there at the conclusion of the conference.

Résoudre le problème d’opioïdes au Canada passe par la sensibilisation et le traitement

Les problèmes associés à l’abus de médicaments sur ordonnance nous sont familiers, mais des données présentées aujourd’hui lors de la conférence Questions de substance 2011 à Vancouver jettent une lumière nouvelle sur cette question troublante.

Selon une étude menée par le Centre de toxicomanie et de santé mentale (CAMH) de l’Ontario, en 2009, la prévalence de l’usage d’opioïdes, comme l’oxycodone, chez les élèves ontariens du secondaire dépassait celle du tabagisme. Aujourd’hui, Wayne Skinner de CAMH nous a parlé d’un projet, créé par ses collègues Jennifer Barr et Christine Bois, qui s’attaque aux préoccupations découlant de l’usage d’opioïdes. Le projet OpiATE met l’accent sur la sensibilisation, le traitement et l’éducation pour lutter contre la dépendance problématique aux opioïdes en Ontario.

Si le public ontarien s’inquiète de plus en plus des taux accrus de dépendance, des cambriolages dans des pharmacies et des décès indicateurs de problèmes avec les opioïdes, ce type de problème ne se limite pas à l’Ontario. Le Canada arrive en troisième place des plus grands consommateurs d’opiacés. L’accès à ces médicaments essentiels doit être assuré, mais nous devons aussi reconnaître qu’ils sont parfois mal utilisés et empêcher cet abus.

Avec l’aide de Sécurité publique Canada, le CCLAT entend faire avancer l’action nationale sur cette question en collaborant avec ses partenaires pour préparer une réponse globale contre le mauvais usage, l’abus et le détournement de médicaments sur ordonnance au Canada. Le CCLAT tiendra une réunion nationale à Ottawa au début de 2012 sur le sujet. Nous vous tiendrons au courant des développements sur cette importante question.

Je vous invite aussi à consulter notre site Web à http://www.questionsdesubstance.ca/, car nous y afficherons les présentations des conférenciers au terme de l’événement

Honouring our First Nations, Inuit and Métis partners / Rendre hommage à nos partenaires inuits, métis et des Premières nations

2011-11-07T09:30:00.007-05:00

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I am very pleased to see the number of workshops and sessions our First Nations, Inuit and Métis colleagues are providing at IOS 2011. Over the years, CCSA has benefited from a strong relationship with Aboriginal people. Beginning with our Elders Advisory Council, CCSA appreciates the guidance and counsel they provide to ensure our work has a meaningful impact. We know the need is great, as far too many of our young Aboriginal people and their communities are so devastated by substance abuse. That’s why several workshops and discussions at Issues of Substance 2011 have been devoted to this topic. All of us should value the knowledge and best practices our First Nations, Inuit and Métis collaborators can share with use.

There are many different approaches to understanding and addressing the issues that our Aboriginal people face. Elders have told us about the role that Aboriginal traditional culture can play in healing from substance abuse. We have also heard how indigenous and Western knowledge can complement each other to improve outcomes. There is no shortage of innovative ideas on how we can address this problem

I am impressed by the resilience and strength shown by the workers who deal with these challenges on a daily basis. While many have made great contributions, two of our partners stand out -- the Mamisarvik Healing Centre and the National Native Addictions Partnership Foundation.

It’s important that we learn from the experiences of our front line workers. The CCSA is grateful for their efforts.

Rendre hommage à nos partenaires inuits, métis et des Premières nations

J’ai le plaisir de constater le grand nombre d’ateliers et de séances qu’offrent nos collègues inuits, métis et des Premières nations aux participants de la conférence 2011. Au fil des ans, le CCLAT a su créer un lien solide avec les peuples autochtones. Avec la formation du Conseil consultatif des Aînés, le CCLAT a pu mettre à profit les avis et conseils reçus pour s’assurer que son travail a des retombées positives. Nous savons qu’il faut agir, car l’abus de substances dévaste la vie d’un trop grand nombre de jeunes Autochtones et leurs communautés. Voilà pourquoi plusieurs ateliers et discussions de Questions de substance 2011 sont consacrés à ce sujet. Nous devrions tous apprécier les connaissances et les bonnes pratiques que peuvent nous transmettre nos collaborateurs inuits, métis et des Premières nations.

Les difficultés vécues par les peuples autochtones peuvent être abordées et comprises sous différents angles. Les Anciens nous ont parlé du rôle de la culture traditionnelle autochtone dans la guérison de la toxicomanie. On nous a aussi expliqué qu’en combinant savoir autochtone et savoir occidental, on pouvait améliorer les résultats. Les idées novatrices sur la façon de prendre en charge ce problème ne manquent pas.

La résilience et la force des travailleurs confrontés au quotidien à ces difficultés m’impressionnent. Nombre d’entre eux apportent leur pierre à l’édifice, mais deux de nos partenaires méritent une mention spéciale – le Centre de guérison Mamisarvik et la Fondation autochtone nationale de partenariat pour la lutte contre les dépendances.

Nous devons profiter de l’expérience des travailleurs de première ligne. Le CCLAT les remercie de tous les efforts qu’ils déploient.

Get a sneak peek of IOS 2011 / Que vous réserve QDS 2011?

2011-11-04T11:38:00.011-04:00

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Although the Issues of Substance Conference doesn’t get under way officially until next Monday, November 6, there are two pre-conference workshops that I know you won’t want to miss.

The first deals with drug impaired driving in Canada, a serious problem that has recently come to the forefront as a public health and safety issue. We will explore the issue with insights from a Victoria police officer who will describe the Drug Evaluation and Classification program for detecting drug-impaired drivers. Participants will also have the opportunity to learn about the research supporting the program’s scientific basis. The session will conclude with a general discussion of future steps that could be taken to reduce the harms associated with driving after drug use.

Our second workshop on Sunday is entitled Digital Narratives: Women and Treatment. This national networking session on women’s treatment will provide participants with a hands-on opportunity to make digital narratives—a creative way to share evidence and experience-based stories about their work in lasting and meaningful ways. It is the first of many sessions during the conference that will explore issues related to women and substance abuse.

Pre-registration is required for both of these workshops.

See you in Vancouver next week!

Que vous réserve QDS 2011?

Officiellement, la conférence Questions de substance ne débute que le lundi 6 novembre, mais nous vous proposons deux ateliers pré-conférence que, croyez-moi, vous ne voulez pas manquer.

Le thème du premier est la drogue au volant au Canada – problème grave suscitant depuis peu des préoccupations concernant la santé publique et la sécurité de la population. La question sera abordée selon le point de vue d’un policier de Victoria, qui décrira le Programme d’évaluation et de classification des drogues grâce auquel on peut identifier les conducteurs sous l’effet de la drogue. Les participants pourront aussi se familiariser avec les études étayant le fondement scientifique du programme. La séance se conclura par une discussion sur les mesures à prendre pour réduire les méfaits liés à la conduite sous l’effet de la drogue.

Le second atelier du dimanche s’intitule Récits numériques : les femmes et le traitement. Cette séance de réseautage national sur le traitement des femmes donnera aux participants l’occasion de créer des récits numériques – une façon créative de faire bénéficier les autres, de façon éloquente et durable, de leurs données et expériences de travail. C’est la première de nombreuses séances qui aborderont des sujets touchant les femmes et l’abus de substances tout au long de la conférence.

Il faut s’inscrire à l’avance pour ces deux ateliers.

On se voit à Vancouver la semaine prochaine!

Homeless man turned CEO among inspirational IOS keynote speakers / Un sans-abri devenu PDG parmi les conférenciers principaux inspirants de Questions

2011-11-03T12:52:00.024-04:00

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As we count down to next week's Issues of Substance 2011 conference in Vancouver, I'd like to highlight the excellent keynote speakers that we have lined up.

Hugh Evans will open the conference on Monday Nov 7 with insights into extreme poverty and what can be done about it in a presentation called 1.4 Billion Reasons. If you have not heard Hugh speak before, circle this date on your calendar. He is a true inspiration. Although still under 30, his achievements on a global scale as a social entrepreneur provide a positive role model for delegates on issues such as developing holistic programs for Aboriginal communities, preventing fetal alcohol spectrum disorder among substance-using women, and making early interventions to prevent addictions among Canada's youth.

Our plenary speaker on Tuesday Nov 8 is Patricia Conrod. Her research focuses on cognitive, personality and biological risk factors for the development and maintenance of drug abuse. Her work has led to the development of new approaches to substance abuse treatment and prevention.

I know you won't want to miss Joe Roberts, CEO of Skid Row. Joe will deliver the closing keynote address on Wednesday. In 1989 he was living under a bridge as a homeless skid row addict. Today he is an author, CEO and internationally sought after speaker who motivates and inspires audiences worldwide. I look forward to hearing his story.

See you at IOS 2011 next week!

Un sans-abri devenu PDG parmi les conférenciers principaux inspirants de Questions de substance

Le compte à rebours est commencé pour Questions de substance 2011, qui aura lieu à Vancouver la semaine prochaine, et je tiens à présenter les excellents conférenciers principaux au programme.

La conférence s’ouvrira le lundi 7 novembre avec Hugh Evans et son exposé intitulé 1,4 milliard de raisons portant sur la pauvreté extrême et ce que nous pouvons faire à cet égard. Si vous n’avez pas encore eu l’occasion d’entendre Hugh, inscrivez cette date à votre agenda. Il est une véritable source d’inspiration. Il n’a pas encore atteint la trentaine, mais ses réalisations à l’échelle internationale en tant qu’entrepreneur social en font un modèle positif à suivre pour les délégués dans des secteurs comme l’élaboration de programmes holistiques pour les communautés autochtones, la prévention de l’ensemble des troubles causés par l’alcoolisation fœtale chez les femmes toxicomanes et les interventions précoces visant à prévenir la toxicomanie chez les jeunes Canadiens.

Le mardi 8 novembre, la conférencière principale est Patricia Conrod. Ses recherches se concentrent sur les facteurs de risque biologiques, personnels et cognitifs du développement et de la maintenance de la toxicomanie. Les résultats de ses recherches ont mené à l’élaboration de nouvelles approches de traitement et de prévention de la toxicomanie.

Enfin, mercredi, vous ne voudrez pas manquer Joe Roberts, PDG de Skid Row, qui prononcera l’allocution de clôture. En 1989, il vivait sous un pont et était toxicomane et vagabond; aujourd’hui, il est un auteur, PDG et conférencier très en demande à l’échelle internationale qui motive et inspire des auditoires partout dans le monde. J’ai hâte d’entendre son histoire.

Au plaisir de vous voir la semaine prochaine!

Introducing Issues of Substance to Canadians / Présenter Questions de substance aux Canadiens

2011-11-02T15:00:00.026-04:00

Le texte français se trouve sous le texte anglais

I am looking forward to meeting with delegates at the Issues of Substance (IOS) conference taking place next week in Vancouver, British Columbia from November 6-9.

The IOS conference is the leading Canadian conference for experts in the addictions and related fields to discuss the latest research and best practices, and to raise awareness about the costs to society of substance abuse and addiction.

The harmful use of alcohol and other drugs costs more than $40 billion annually in Canada. Given the current uncertain economic landscape and the limited resources available to address these important issues, every investment dollar count has to count. That's why the theme we're exploring this year is Transforming health promotion, prevention, treatment and recovery. The line-up of plenary sessions and workshops are designed to take into account the full continuum of care – from health promotion and prevention to treatment and recovery – and to consider how we can take full advantage of potential outcomes with limited funds.

Hosting the IOS conference is an important opportunity for the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse to fulfill its role as Canada's leader in developing and facilitating collaboration among multi-sectoral stakeholder groups to share data and produce findings that inform effective policy, research, prevention and treatment efforts across Canada. The CCSA is also committed to raise awareness with governments and partners on the importance of having evidence-informed analysis and advice to mobilize efforts to reduce alcohol- and other drug-related harms.

I know you'll agree with me that the line-up of keynote speakers and plenary and workshop sessions planned for IOS 2011 promises to be the most productive and memorable conference we've ever held.

See you at the conference!

Présenter Questions de substance aux Canadiens

Je me réjouis de rencontrer les participants à la conférence Questions de substance, qui aura lieu la semaine prochaine, du 6 au 9 novembre, à Vancouver (Colombie-Britannique).

Questions de substance est la principale conférence canadienne s'adressant aux experts en toxicomanie et de domaines connexes pour leur permettre de discuter des dernières recherches et bonnes pratiques et de mieux faire connaître les coûts de l'abus de substances et de la toxicomanie pour la société.

Chaque année, la consommation nocive d'alcool et d'autres drogues coûte plus de 40 milliards de dollars au Canada. Le climat économique actuel est incertain et les ressources à notre disposition pour lutter contre ces importantes préoccupations sont limitées, si bien que chaque dollar investi doit compter, d'où le thème de cette année : Transformer la promotion de la santé, la prévention, le traitement et la guérison. Les divers ateliers et séances plénières proposés abordent tout le continuum de soins – de la promotion de la santé à la prévention en passant par le traitement et la guérison – et la façon dont nous pouvons profiter pleinement des résultats obtenus avec ces fonds limités.

La conférence offre au Centre canadien de lutte contre l'alcoolisme et les toxicomanies (CCLAT) une occasion en or d'exercer son rôle de leader canadien dans la promotion de la collaboration entre des groupes multisectoriels, et ce, afin d'échanger des données et de dégager des conclusions qui orienteront des initiatives efficaces de politique, de recherche, de prévention et de traitement au Canada. Le CCLAT s'emploie aussi à sensibiliser les autorités gouvernementales et les partenaires à l'importance des analyses et des conseils factuels afin de mobiliser les efforts visant à réduire les méfaits liés à l'alcool et aux autres drogues.

Vous conviendrez avec moi que les conférenciers principaux et les séances plénières et ateliers au programme de Questions de substance 2011 promettent d'en faire notre conférence la plus productive et la plus mémorable.

Au plaisir de vous y voir!

Greetings

2011-02-07T11:48:00.002-05:00

I find myself starting with an apology for my delay in providing a new post. With that off my chest, and fingers displaying my best Scout's honor salute - I will post more regularly!

I'd like to begin by acknowledging the great work of the CCSA team in getting us present on the key social media sites. We have some outstanding talent at CCSA who are experts in their own right at this and I'm pleased CCSA can benefit from their guidance. Over the course of the next few weeks/months, you'll see CCSA's online personality merge into a strong and coherent presence aimed at providing our key clients and constituents with the information they need most. I welcome all of your feedback on this work.

We're also hiring a new Director of Communications and Corporate Services. This individual will help connect our overarching organizational communication strategy to all of our dissemination tools.

I'm thrilled at the work Dr. Colleen Dell is leading with her students at the University of Saskatoon on developing new prevention strategies to reach their peers. I look forward to hearing of their work.

February can be a 'blue' month for some, but I do know that the busier one is, the quicker time seems to fly. Right now, I'm working hard at getting the Vienna NGO Committee lined up for the upcoming Commission on Narcotic Drugs. More will be posted on that soon.

We are also working very hard at completing all of our fiscal year deliverables (ending March 31) while also preparing our work plan and budget for next fiscal year. Luckily for me, I have CCSA's entire Senior Leadership Team to rely on to get this important process done.

I'm also pleased to welcome back Rhowena Martin as Director of Partnerships and Priorities. Don Sinden was ably filling in for Rho while she was on maternity leave. Don, provided a welcome and steady management hand in her absence.

CCSA is waiting with anticipation for the appointment of a new Board Chair. We bid adieu to our interim chair and long time Board member, Dr. Anne Lavack, next month. I've benefited from 9 years of her support, guidance and council. What a gift she has provided us all! We do however, look forward to immediately drafting her into our alumni once she steps down from the Board.

Here's looking forward to welcoming our new chair! Talk soon.

Dispatch Vienna

2010-12-10T22:55:00.000-05:00

As I touched down in Vienna, I was struck by the amount of snow that had fallen. While its not unusual for an occasional dusting, this was a good old Canadian storm. And, Vienna was even further transformed into a magical city of holiday delight and wide eyed wonderment. But, alas worked called! I was here for the Vienna NGO Committee (VNGOC) elections as I was in the running for Chair (and pleased to report was elected). As most of you who follow this blog know, VNGOC has steadily grown in stature, visibility and importance as a key link between the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) and NGOs. And, I'm keen to take the Committee to the next level.

In doing so, we want to work closely with our partners. UNODC being chief among them. I met with the new Executive Director Mr. Yury Fedotov, who despite an unwarranted and unfair denunciation by certain NGOs on his appointment - declared his earnest interest in working with the Committee - of the important work NGOs lead in the field - and of the tremendous opportunity before us all to work together. I am very confident that we will do exactly that. I can tell you, however, that I will never measure up to Fedotov - at least not in a literal sense - as he is an imposing man - just check out our photo and I'm 5' 10"!

The VNGOC Board thanked our outgoing Chair, Mr. David Turner, as he begins his new role as Executive Director of the Organizations of the Families of Asia and the Pacific (OFAP) Observatory in Macau. I'm certain you'll see his name grace these pages in the future. The Board and I also turned our attention on the preparatory work for the 2011 CND which will be held from March 21-25 next Spring.

VNGOC is committed to making this our best year yet in terms of ensuring a strong NGO participation, visibility and to showcase the work of our three regional partners leading the Beyond 2008 advocacy work. In fact after Vienna, I'm enroute to Dakar, Senegal to see how they are doing that work. I'm very excited at the prospect of joining them in this important task of turning Beyond 2008 recommendations into reality. Recall that our Declaration and Resolutions were not the end of a process but the start to a formal and global advocacy of the consensus based recommendations we all worked so hard to develop.

A note of thanks to Mirella Frahi and her team of the Civil Society Division at UNODC. They are our formal link with UNODC, they offer us ongoing support, help and a true sense of partnership. As I take on the lead of VNGOC, I also want to see how best we can collectively enhance their resource base for the benefit of all their NGO colleagues.

Off to Dakar!

Part 2

2010-12-05T10:51:00.000-05:00

Last week we released Canada's first national guidelines for drug prevention programs for schools, families and communities. This was a joint celebration involving those who were central to creating the resources along with groups such as the Canadian Association of Principals who have committed to applying the standards in schools across Canada.

And, if that alone wasn't sufficiently newsworthy we got a helping hand at the launch from US Drug Czar Gil Kerlikowske. The Director - as he is referred to - easily won over his Canadian audience. His low key and disarming manner, earnest interest in learning from Canuck experience and authenticity spoke louder than he could have ever shouted. Many media were present for him and he was kind enough to let me share in those interviews - no ego - just straightforward interest in making the most of his visit to Canada. He even didn't mind getting up early to do a joint interview on Canada AM.

When he said Canada was now the leader in the field of drug prevention with the release of the standards, it was music to my ears. After all, we know we do good work - but rarely do we toot our Canadian horns - having the director do that was much appreciated. Take a bow Canada!

The director also spoke at our Board dinner later that same day. I was the warm-up act - so to speak - and wanted to leave the audience with one simple message - thank you to our partners for your engagement, expertise and endurance. I think the message was well received.

The director provided his keynote speech after what was likely the most comprehensive introduction he ever received! His comments were straightforward, complimentary to Canadian accomplishments and an outline of the US priorities - those being pharmaceutical abuse, drug impaired driving and youth drug prevention.

You'll be hearing much more about how CCSA and the US will collaborate on these.

The next day was the CCSA Board meeting and after a vigorous and thorough discussion on our work-plan, budget and key activities, the Board gave me their thumbs up for the work underway. Take a bow CCSA!

To tell you the truth, the next day wasn't pretty at CCSA as everyone there looked like they had just run a marathon. And in many cases they did. From those who worked so diligently on getting our products completed, to the translation, graphic design, printing, communications and media releases, to prepping for the 100 guests at the Board dinner, making name tags, table tents for the satellite meetings of CECA and the CACP drug abuse committee meetings, who joined us for the dinner to, well, everything else. I'm breathless just thinking about it. But very proud of what we are accomplishing with all of our partners and friends. Thank you for that wonderful satisfaction.

Stay tuned for my next post, as I hit the road for a 'quick' run through Vancouver, Vienna, Dakar and Edmonton - 44 hours of flying time (massage please!).

Best

MP

Part1

2010-12-03T15:46:00.019-05:00

It's been a busy time for us at CCSA. First was the launch of our national poll on the disparity between parents' perception of youth drug use and actual youth prevalence data. Not surprisingly, there was a significant gap between perception and reality. Our call to action was for parents to become engaged, informed and educated and only then, enter into a real dialogue with their youth about the issue.

Also part of the poll was highlighting the need for parents to be more vigilant at monitoring prescription narcotics at home, as the recent Ontario Student Drug Use Health Survey (OSDUHS) raised the disconcerting fact that 18% of youth grades 7-12 used these drugs for non-medical purposes in the past year and three quarters of them got the drug from the family medicine chest.

Next up, was the launch of our 4-part series of Meeka wellness resources with our Inuit colleagues including Minister Leona Aglukkaq. These represent the first of a series of traditional Inuit learnings translated into English. Brightly illustrated from original sketches made by Elder Meeka Arnakaq - the books come to life and will soon make their way to curriculum at Nunavut Arctic College for midwives, school counselors and the like. A fantastic accomplishment!

On November 17th we paid tribute to National Day of Remembrance for Road Crash Victims (NDRRCV) for all those killed in fatal accidents. NDRRCV day falls at the same time as National Drug Awareness Week, which leads me to bring attention to the fact that road crash victims are also impacted by alcohol and drug driving. CCSA does quite a bit of research in this area and we know that drug-driving is almost at par with driving while under the influence of alcohol. This is a serious and complex issue and as a country we need to do more to raise awareness.

These events generated massive media interest and pick up - which to my mind underscores the public thirst for meaningful information they can use - especially for those with teens in the house - as is the case for my wife Kim and I.

Enough said for now - part 2 of our marathon run in a couple days.

Best
MP

URL-TV – a new way of doing prevention business

2010-10-31T18:48:00.003-04:00

Greetings, I’m happy to report that I have re-initiated my blog and look forward to writing on matters of specific importance to myself and the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA). I wanted to dedicate my first blog re-entry to URL-TV.

CCSA was tasked to develop a youth drug prevention strategy as part of the Federal Government’s National Anti Drug Strategy (NADS). Our youth work is based on a two pronged approach. The first is developing Canada’s first ever national standards for youth drug prevention programs in schools, communities and families. Essentially, these create the bar against which all prevention programs will be measured in Canada and help ensure that time spent with our youth reflects cutting edge practice, knowledge and insight. These are already well developed and put into practice.

The second prong was to create a media youth strategy whereby private sector interests could work with public resources to develop and deliver creative drug prevention messaging to youth 10-24 years old. This partnership approach has been used successfully in several countries and especially in the US.

As we undertook this challenge, we were immediately supported through the great work of DraftFCB, a media company in Toronto. Their top executives, including Paul Mead, John Boniface and Nicholas Austin – applied their massive creative abilities and helped us create Xperiment.ca and our beloved lead ‘man’ URL. URL is an eyeball that has quickly come to life on our web pages and is a hit with youth from coast to coast to coast.

While we wanted to scale the breadth of Xperiment.ca, we wanted to do so with the benefit of key prevention experts in the field. We’ve done that through the Media Youth Advisory Committee – a collection of brilliant professionals helping us ensure that prevention messaging used on Xperiment.ca – and now URL-TV is reflective of sound theory and truly engages, educates and allows youth to empower themselves.

Throughout the development of Xperiment.ca, I often visualized the passage from 10-24 years of age not unlike being on a moving sidewalk. We could identify predictable challenges, opportunities and key points along that sidewalk that help us better connect with youth. As we developed that notion of an integrated and seamless approach to prevention throughout that age span, I ran into Bob Dawson of Mad Moose TV. A renaissance man with tremendous credentials in the TV field, his interests were in driving his company more and more to online TV. With Xperiment.ca in hand, URL ready for new challenges and MMTV’s platform – Canada’s first ever online healthy lifestyle channel for youth was created.

URL-TV represents the leading edge of the online broadcasting wave. It brings a fresh, new approach for corporate interests to work with CCSA, to underwrite the costs of production and achieve a strong return on their investment. It is social innovation in practice.

URL-TV is starting with three shows that are youth centric. Whether it be cooking skills, sports prowess or financial acumen, URL-TV programs all have an underlying drug prevention theme and represent infotainment at its best. This isn’t about “just say no” it’s about “say YES” to independence, say yes to sports, say yes to learning, say yes to what makes you better and healthier.

This is just the beginning! Watch as URL-TV expands to address the multitude of youth interests, passions and needs. Join us and be part of a new movement in youth drug prevention messaging.

Another Commission on Narcotic Drugs like all others?

2010-03-15T15:13:00.000-04:00

The annual Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) - the global parliament on drug matters - concluded its week-long meeting on Friday, March 12. And while these events normally come and go with little to report - this one was markedly different—a 10 degree shift (see story entitled one degree of change).

Where to start?

First, this was the final meeting for Antonio Maria Costa, head of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). He had completed two four-year terms, but apparently the Secretary General wants someone new to take the helm. While Mr. Costa was genuinely helpful to Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) over the years and particularly for the Beyond 2008 process - he was known for his combative and antagonistic style with those who espoused views different from his.

Mr. Costa agreed to an "open dialogue" with all NGOs at the CND (about 160 individuals) and yours truly was chairing. You could tell on his arrival that this wasn't going to go well and indeed it didn't. Quickly into the question and answer portion, tempers flared, responses were curt and general crankiness set in. There was no dialogue - simply an overly defensive response to general questions. It was disappointing to say the least because I truly believe Mr. Costa was a strong advocate for NGOs, yet the parting memory of him will be tainted by this exchange.

On the upside, we had a wonderful dialogue a couple of days later with the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) President, Professor Atasoy. Poised, engaging and disarmingly open - she informally agreed to all of the Beyond 2008 recommendations addressed to INCB. This is a significant step forward for NGOs and their capacity to dialogue with and contribute to the global watchdog of the drug control conventions.

Our anticipated open dialogue with the Chair of the Commission, the Ambassador of Iran, never came to be. This was disappointing as he had agreed repeatedly to meet, but unfortunately, we didn't have this critically important discussion. The Vienna NGO Committee (VNGOC) has committed to re-doubling its efforts to ensure this doesn't happen next year.

But most notable of all was the arrival of President Obama's new drug czar, Gil Kerlikowske, and his deputy, Dr. Tom McLellan. Simply put, the USA team was a breath of severely needed fresh air to the Commission. It oxygenated the debate by focusing on prevention and treatment rather than supply reduction. It focused on science rather than rhetoric. The US tabled and successfully negotiated two resolutions - one on demand reduction, the other on access to essential medicines. Both Mr. Kerlikowske and Dr. McLellan spoke of their country’s challenges and commitment to doing better. Dr. McLellan is very well known in the addiction field and his legendary treatment prowess came to the fore. We were dealing with an expert - how enjoyable. The US also welcomed NGOs of all stripes to a reception held at their ambassador’s residence. Many of the NGOs present participated in the Beyond 2008 process and I was literally dumbstruck to see the diversity of those there - including many who do not share US views on drug matters. Nonetheless, the US was taking the high road and reaching out to all. Their ambassador was not only gracious but vividly interested in the issues and you could see him at the CND every day. Hats off to the US delegation for re-energizing this unique body and I look forward to seeing more of this from other delegations in the future.

On the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA) front, I was accompanied by Christopher Kennedy Lawford (yes that Kennedy and Lawford family). Many of you will recall he spoke at our Issues of Substance Conference last year in Halifax, Nova Scotia (Canada). He speaks openly about his struggle with addiction and recovery. I wanted Christopher Kennedy Lawford to be introduced to the UNODC and others given that we rarely have a high profile person willing to speak about this issue. He was going to Kiev to do some work for UNICEF, but agreed to stop off in Vienna. We arranged for him to speak at the UNODC/World Health Organization/Vienna NGO Committee side event on access to care and treatment. He shared his story and brought a human face and voice to the Commission. For many, it was a pause in their day - a means of grounding them in the reality of their work and who they are doing it for. I suspect we'll be seeing far more of Christopher Kennedy Lawford in the future.

Finally, CCSA had a very productive meeting with the European Monitoring Centre on Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA). This follows on a previous meeting where we agreed to collaborate on issues such as prevention program standards, treatment strategies and drugged driving. Watch this space and CCSA's website for more news on that to come.

And so the week came to a close late Friday evening - the Commission having adopted all of its resolutions and tabled its report of the meeting. As I stand back, I sense a sea of change occurring at the CND. We have a forward-looking, engaged Commission. We have far more NGOs attending than ever before who are increasingly familiar with the process and are seen as collaborators (for the most part) rather than conspirators. Finally, we all agreed to keep the Beyond 2008 recommendations front and centre with the member states, INCB, UNODC and among the NGOs themselves. While I had hoped that we would produce a one degree of change, given all that's occurred, I'd say it was closer to 10....

MP

Blogging – take 2

2010-01-23T20:30:00.001-05:00

Greetings

As part of my slate of resolutions for 2010, I’ve committed to write more regular and frequent posts to this blog. Thank you all for your gentle and not-so-gentle prodding to re-initiate.

Here we are in mid January and the forces of nature have once again captured our global attention as we witness the unfathomable devastation in Haiti. While some distance away – it’s surprising how many relationships I’ve developed over the years with this Island nation. I was there once in 1992 – shortly after an attempted coup d’état – in my capacity as senior interdiction specialist for Canada Customs. I reviewed their Customs drug enforcement services and had the opportunity of meeting many of their fine young officers and visiting Port-au-Prince and other areas now reduced to rubble.

In the late 1990’s when I was at the Solicitor General Canada (now Public Safety), I regularly saw M. René Magloire at CICAD (Inter American Drug Abuse Control Commission) meetings. He was an advisor to the Haitian government and split his time between Montreal and Port-au-Prince. A kind and gentle man, he was most committed to improving his country’s role in addressing drug use, trafficking and transit.

Most recently, M. Magloire occupied the position of Minister of Justice for the Government of Haiti – a clear recognition of his competency and professionalism. No easy job that’s for certain and I dearly hope he and his family escaped harm’s way.

The Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA) is also related to Canada’s most famous person with Haitian roots – Mme. Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada. CCSA is fortunate to receive the patronage of Her Excellency and she was kind enough to join us when we were celebrating our 20th Anniversary. Her warmth, passion and eloquence captivated all in the room while her speech spoke from the heart and touched each and every one of us.

And so it is that we realize over and over again how our globe is really such a small world. Incidents occurring far from home really do hit home. The relationships we form through work often define the ‘good old days’ and it is in these times of incredible tragedy that we must come together and support those who we know and their loved ones. It is encouraging to see the generous and spontaneous contributions from people all over the world to the relief effort – despite the ongoing economic challenges, but as the days go by and the world returns to its normal spin, our Haitian friends will turn their energy to re-building a new Haiti. We need to be present and accounted for then too, so let’s ensure we’re in this for the long game.

MP

Greetings from Lisbon

2009-05-09T14:36:00.004-04:00

I was invited to address the European Monitoring Centre on Drugs and Drug Addiction's (EMCDDA) 15th anniversary conference entitled “Identifying Europe’s information needs for effective drug policy.” I spoke at the opening plenary about Beyond 2008 and how Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) could contribute to the topic and more specifically to the 2009-12 European Union (EU) Action Plan on Drugs. As some of you may know, the EU has spent massive amounts of money in the field of drugs and has created– a series of highly developed networks - both formal and informal - among the ever expanding EU countries. This conference focused on the information needs of the EU and as I listened to the speakers I was struck by several ‘conclusions’ that apply equally to us in Canada as they do to the EU and globally.

First, there is an incredible amount of information available and being generated on drugs – and at the risk of under emphasizing incredible – consider mountains, reams, terabytes of drug related information! Epidemiological, quantitative, qualitative, economic, environmental, policy, trend, projections, and the list goes on. Despite this plethora of information it appears that we still haven’t made significant impact either at predicting, preventing or addressing the impact of drug use. That’s not to say that there have been no advances, it’s just for the amount invested, I would have thought we’d be further along.

Second, despite globalization and snap travel from one side of the world to the other – people need to meet face to face to share and learn from each other. It seems like a terribly inefficient way of doing things, but it seems to appease our intrinsic need for this type of interaction. This too got me thinking that this form of delivery allows us to receive information, to process it as it is presented and to connect our own unseen dots from the data. This face-to-face learning is a luxury when compared with our more common quick e-stop at Wikipedia. Clearly though, e-learning is what we have to settle for more often than not considering the massive volumes of information now available to us. All of which has many implications for how we receive and contribute to the knowledge world. Let me explain...

We are simply overwhelmed with information – studies show that secondary school students rarely go beyond the top e-sheet of a Google search find to do their work and likely we can fall victim to a similar trap. So how best should we organize all of this information in some manner that allows us to remain contemporary without having to wade through forests of paper? That answer remains ever elusive.

Publishing our information either in peer reviewed journals, on the web or otherwise might give us a false sense of security that this knowledge is ‘getting out there’ and shaping the field of drug policy. Barring a targeted search for your work or some fluke of e-searching (because that is our first stop isn’t it?) what likelihood is there that our brilliant conclusions are being leveraged by the field? Hit and miss at best I suspect.

These are not new issues, or perhaps they are due to the advent of the web -but this conference underscored for me that while we witness cutting edge technological growth (and as I write this on my $300 netbook on a wireless network in the conference venue – but I digress) we must continue to rely on good old fashioned means of communicating and receiving the information we need. Creating and growing our networks – real networks where we actually know everyone – remains among the best ways to improve our work.

The EU has developed in leaps and bounds in the short time it has been around. Its ability to pull together so many different cultures and values into a common strategy is admirable. The stark absence of political posturing on issues like harm reduction at this conference provided a welcome opportunity to focus on substance and evidence rather than words and opinions. Canada has much to contribute to the field of substance abuse – and we do – but there are interesting lessons to be learned on the other side of the pond. Time well spent.

One degree will do

2009-04-06T16:48:00.009-04:00

It has been nearly three weeks since the High Level Segment (HLS) concluded and as far as I can tell the world keeps spinning as it did before. That isn't to say that this event didn't produce change. On my last post, I commented on one degree of change. Let me explain.

If you've ever watched a small aircraft fly overhead, you'll notice how far they drift due to wind. To get to where they want to go, pilots point the nose of the aircraft at such an angle that by calculating for wind, speed and distance, they'll arrive at their destination. What we wanted to do at the HLS is exactly the opposite and drift away from the status quo so that the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) would ultimately make its way to new destinations.

You don't need a massive amount of change - just one degree will do - for the CND to continually and progressively change its course. I am very confident that the collective energy, engagement and advice of civil society has provoked a lasting one degree of change in course - which over time will prove significant. That said, and just as pilots do, CND will have to re-adjust their course once in a while, but again I see civil society being there - engaged and involved in those decisions.

As CND makes its slow change of course, it must also deal with some pressing issues. First and foremost, the need to bridge the harm reduction schism which broke open at the concluding session of the HLS. Ergo, there was no Vienna consensus and for the CND to earn the confidence of its partners, it must find a way forward on this issue which is as ideological as it is semantic. This will likely have to be done off-line - away from the formal negotiation table, which is far too laden with risk-averse wordsmithers. Perhaps a Wilton Park like forum sponsored by the Vienna Non-Governmental Organization Committee (VNGOC) could be used to break this impasse.

Another matter is dealing with the reality that Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) have earned their wings. They can speak the language of CND and are prepared to engage in substantive policy work. Simply put, the CND must find a way to bring the voice of civil society to the table. Member states can model this behavior by engaging with their NGOs more actively, including them on their delegations and championing their involvement in CND matters.

Just as change brings risk - it also can bring opportunity and CND is in dire need of capitalizing on this opportunity. Beyond 2008 has laid out many tangible and realistic recommendations that continue to gain traction with decision makers across the globe - change has begun in earnest - join in, shape it and be a part of it! Check out the VNGOC website for a great starting point.

I'd like to take a moment to thank the many readers who have commented on this blog and indeed, encouraged it to carry on. I have enjoyed the opportunity to 'let my hair down' and reflect on issues of interest and the discussion that it generated. I will keep this blog going while broadening its focus to both domestic and international drug policy matters. Any and all comments are greatly appreciated. So please drop by and visit this site a couple of times a month. I'll try and post around the 1st and 15th.

Day 2 - One degree of change!

2009-03-13T16:39:00.030-04:00

Day 2 continued with general statements in the plenary and two roundtable discussions. The roundtable on demand reduction was heavily subscribed to and reflects the member states’ keen interest in the topic. Three Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) were given slots for this -- CEDRO from Lima, Peru; IFNGO from Macau and CIJ from Mexico. While NGOs again had to wait until the very end to speak -- and in this case without interpretation -- their comments made a forceful impact on attending member states.

Mr. Costa indicated that he was open to having a dialogue session with the NGOs present. David Turner and I quickly took advantage of this opportunity. The dialogue session, which was held in the new press briefing room, was filled to capacity. One of our objectives for this event was to stress the need for dialogue. We also wanted participants to focus their questions on issues related specifically to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) mandate. We knew many NGOs were upset with the Political Declaration and having Mr. Costa in their sights would have made a convenient target, but the truth is he had no responsibility or role in the preparation of that product -- a point I made clear at the outset. I added that NGOs that did wish to object to the Political Declaration should do so via their member states.

After a rocky start, Mr. Costa and the group settled into a productive dialogue. Representatives from OSI, CADCA, IHRA and Breaking the Chains all spoke. With the questions focused more specifically on issues relevant to UNODC, Mr. Costa provided some much-appreciated candor, insight and commitment to the various NGO concerns -- from a last minute editing concern on the Political Declaration to his views on UNODC's commitment to pursuing harm reduction initiatives and the launch of a much-welcomed global UNODC/WHO project on drug treatment standards (another Beyond 2008 recommendation). The discussion ran 25 minutes longer than planned and I can say without reservation that I thought it was one of our best dialogues with Mr. Costa.

The length of the meeting caused me to be late for another meeting with the acting US Drug Czar Ed Jurith. However, he was gracious about the delay and we had a very positive and free-flowing discussion. We covered a lot of ground including demand reduction, the role of NGOs at the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) and prospects for the future.

I very much appreciated this meeting and the likely role June Sivilli of ONDCP had in setting it up. Some of you may recall June was the subject of intense and frankly uncalled for attention and criticism during the Beyond 2008 global forum in July last year. No need to repeat what shouldn't have been said in the first place, but June's passion for drug demand reduction and her sincere interest in NGOs resonated at the meeting. Time well spent indeed.

I then had to hustle back to the plenary to deliver the sole NGO intervention of the High Level Segment (HLS). Upon arrival I saw that there remained 10 countries ahead of me followed by four international government organizations (WHO, UNAIDS, the European Commission and the Sovereign Order of Malta. The time kept ticking on and it became obvious to all that we might well run out of time before I could speak. A quick chat with the head of the CND Secretariat confirmed that the session would extend however long it took to allow me to speak. It was about 18:15 when I finally found myself sitting in the "next speaker seat" listening to the gentleman from the Order of Malta deliver his remarks.

Waiting there during his 5-minute slot gave me time to reflect. I thought of the impossibility of being the lone NGO speaker in an event as important as this for global drug policy. How in the world could I even come close to representing the interests of the hundreds of NGOs who had all contributed their time and energy to this unprecedented Beyond 2008? (For more information on the contribution NGOs made through Beyond 2008 see my recent interview with UNODC's Raggie Johansen).

I thought of one NGO representative I met in Macau who hailed from a southeast Asian country and simply said to us "Save us - they are killing us.” No drama, just the facts. I thought of the unlikely partnerships that were born through this work - of those in Latin America and Eastern Europe to name a few. I thought of all the NGOs in the room likely thinking "just don't blow it for us!" And then before I knew it the kind hostess was guiding me to the podium. As I was climbing the steps Mr. Costa, who had arrived for the closing ceremony, gave me a fist in the air gesture of encouragement. Welcome indeed.

Delivering remarks to 1,400 people and 130 countries is an interesting experience to say the least. First off, don't take it personally if half the room is talking. So I spoke a wee bit louder to add to the cacophony. The green light said I was good to go and the 5 minute lead counter was ticking down. It was already -5 seconds before I got into gear and read my statement. I tried to emphasize the points that I knew were of keen interest to all, and indeed I heard a smattering of applause at one point when I said the CND had a long way to go in improving relations with NGOs. While the overall tone was of some disappointment as to the lack of vision and inspiration in the Political Declaration, we did stress a forward-looking agenda and opportunity to implement specific strategies to address these gaps (best heed my own advice of showing up with solutions if criticizing...). The yellow light came on -- 1 minute left -- focus...then it was the blinking red light - I was out of time but the mike stayed on nonetheless. I finished my last line at 17 seconds over time. Reasonable. I came down off the podium and was looking for signs of open hostility or approval! The first person I saw was an Indian colleague who had a broad smile and two thumbs up. Promising.

Over the next hour I received many kind remarks, but most importantly I think everyone saw a bit of what they wanted said in the text. Kudos again to my dear friend and colleague David Turner who helped shape this document.

Being the last speaker, we now moved to the adoption of the Political Declaration, which was quickly gaveled by consensus. Well, that was too easy. Then the representative from Germany raised his flag (really just the name plate) and asked for the floor. He indicated that he was speaking on behalf of several countries which he listed - 26 in fact - and stated that their group wanted an annotation to the annex indicating that for their purposes the term "related support services", the euphemism used in the Political Declaration for harm reduction, meant harm reduction. The chairperson accepted the change and immediately those opposed waded in saying this was out of order and inappropriate given that the Political Declaration had already been adopted. It went back and forth a few times but quicky fizzled out. The amendment stood.

Mr. Costa delivered his closing remarks and redeemed himself fully from having omitted NGOs in his opening statement. His speech spoke clearly and eloquently of the role and value of NGOs, of the intervention I had made, and the contributions of Beyond 2008 to the future of drug policy. It was well appreciated by all NGOs present.

Then it was all over, everyone fleeing the room in search of fresh air and dinner. With the 2009 High Level Segment (HLS) behind us, only time will tell what this magnum opus will yield.

I want to reflect a bit further on what this all means for me and will post a final entry to this blog shortly, but for now - that's how I saw Day 2 go down.

A good day's work!

Day One at HLS

2009-03-12T13:57:00.016-04:00

Day one began with some fanfare, predictable queues at the security check point and a rather large demonstration by the International Network of People who Use Drugs (INPUD) and the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU), where people were locked in tall cages with posters indicating "we are not criminals." An interesting tone setter for the day.

Once inside we made our way to the new "M" Building where the Vienna Non-Governmental Organization Committee (VNGOC) provided 50 tickets to the opening ceremony. This is always a full-house event and today was no different. Here is a smattering of what was said that piqued my attention.

Opening remarks were made by Antonio Maria Costa the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) (from the Playlist choose: UNODC Executive Director addresses the assembly). The tone was decidedly “the best defense is a good offense.” He spoke at length of the criminal impact of drugs and related arms trafficking. I was struck at the complete absence of any mention of civil society and far less emphasis on demand reduction than most would have wanted to see. Disappointing!

The President of the INCB, Hamid Ghodse, made a welcome call for greater attention to drug demand reduction and that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” He went further and indicated that supply reduction measures did not produce sustainable changes and that governments need to ensure a balanced approach. He also underscored the need for governments to heed the UN Charter and Universal Declaration on Human Rights. Good stuff here.

President Morales of Bolivia took the floor as chair of the group of Latin American States. As only the Latins can do - he spoke without formal notes, never breaking stride and eloquently made the case for removing the coca leaf from international drug control on the basis of traditional and cultural use. He elicited spontaneous applause on several occasions and, while not strictly appropriate for him to make such a call in an opening session, the Deputy Prime Minister of Namibia - chair of the High Level Segment (HLS) - stated that "we took note of your comments.” Interesting!

The Chair of the European Commission spoke about the Political Declaration and their disappointment that despite many official references in other UN fora, harm reduction was not included in the final document. Well said. In fact several member states indicated their concern with this omission.

Her Majesty Queen (HMQ) Silvia of Sweden then took the floor as a private person to highlight the work of Beyond 2008 (from the Playlist choose: Queen Silvia of Sweden discusses drug issues). Having her lend her name to our work was a major accomplishment for us . She emphasized the need for governments to heed the Beyond 2008 declaration and resolutions. I heard only positive comments about Her Majesty's speech and was quite pleased with this as an important marker for our work.

Following the opening session, HMQ Silvia co-hosted an Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) side event where we presented on civil society contributions to the HLS. Mr. Sandeep Chawla spoke for UNODC and underscored once again the significant achievement reached by Beyond 2008 with its consensus declaration and resolutions. NGO representatives from New Zealand, India, Mexico and Uganda all spoke of the various outcomes at the regional level of Beyond 2008 activities. Frankly, I think we could give this project a strong passing grade on regional accomplishments alone.

The balance of the day continued with general debates (national statements) and round table discussions. The latter are supposed to be free flowing interactive discussions. Sadly, they quickly reverted to the tried and true UN cadence of national statements. The Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA) and the International Harm Reduction Association (IHRA) were the only two NGOs allowed seats at the session on international cooperation. The session went from 15:30 to 18:30. Unlike the other round table, the chair of this one said we would proceed with comments from member states followed by inter-governmental organizations and then NGOs. IHRA got the floor at 18:25 and myself at about 18:38.

IHRA's representative made a compelling challenge to the issue of international cooperation citing many conflicting UN positions on harm reduction. His intervention incited an unexpected level of crankiness from the chair who said that had NGOs followed the preparation to the HLS process more closely and attended their meetings, they would be more understanding of the political declaration. The fact that NGOs were not allowed to participate in those preparatory meetings (which he chaired) seemed to have slipped his mind...

I made my intervention on specific steps Beyond 2008 had recommended to move international cooperation along. These you can find in the Beyond 2008 declaration and recommendations.

As I rode the U-bahn back to my hotel at 1930 I reflected on the highs (no pun intended) and lows of day one. Quite clearly, NGO prominence, support and profile amongst the UNODC, INCB and many member states has never been better. I think virtually every country attending is likely to know something, if not quite a bit, about the Beyond 2008 declaration and resolutions and I am convinced that this will bode well for NGOs on a national and international basis. The lows, if I can call it that, are the apparent lack of NGO traction with the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) itself, but frankly we need to put that into perspective. Consider that several member states strenuously argued for the inclusion of harm reduction in the political declaration - to no avail. This isn't casual around the table lobbying, but diplomat-to-diplomat arm bending, discussions and high-level interventions both here and in their respective capitals. To say that NGOs are only starting to gain traction with the CND is likely saying a lot. Ultimately it will be through member states calling on the CND itself to embrace NGOs and their complementary role that things may change more quickly. But to my mind it’s not a question of if but when.

T minus one day to the HLS

2009-03-10T14:44:00.005-04:00

...and things are spooling up. For instance, you know the gloves are off when the Vatican and the Economist wade into the drug policy debate. The Vatican placed its marker in the "we don't like harm reduction because it’s too ambiguous box.” The Economist came out swinging with a full blown appeal for legalization and lauded the work of those in harm reduction. Of course we know that some view harm reduction as code for legalization and I can only imagine how many of them may have said "ah - ha!" after reading the article.

Rather than lament the ambiguity of the harm reduction term, it would have been more useful for the Vatican to inform us what type of interventions they do see as helpful. To the Economist, I would simply say that economic harm is but one dimension of this issue - we equally need to look at health and social ones.

There are scores of other media releases around the HLS and even an animated video produced by the Open Society Institute. Strong views are a dime a dozen right now. But let's step back.

Despite apparently divergent perspectives and posturing, most people don't want anyone - much less their loved ones - using drugs. Most think those who are addicted need help, not prison, but have little sympathy for those who profit from the drug trade. A good start towards consensus I’d say.

So we move from the sublime to the surreal world of the UN negotiations. The final version of the Political Declaration appears to have very little in the way of substantive change or major policy shift. Rather, it all sounds vaguely familiar, similar in many ways to the 1998 declaration and therein lies another problem. Much of the CND’s work is far too concerned with words rather than substance.

We need to put substance back into the CND. That means ensuring experts - including NGOs - in drug demand reduction, are there to debate the issues and be present on the government delegations (a Beyond 2008 recommendation).

As we approach the HLS, its script is already written and, not unlike that long string of dominoes, we simply need to kick off the event to allow it to come to its predictable close. Many are already calling the HLS a monumental missed opportunity. More than likely others are breathing a sigh of relief for keeping the barbarians of change at the door.

But it doesn't have to be this adversarial. Many of the Beyond 2008 recommendations are meant to bridge these perceived divides. To date we've had a good response from UNODC and INCB on these recommendations. Member states are also looking at our recommendations in earnest. So it will be interesting to hear how and what number of member states refer to Beyond 2008 in their statements and what fertile ground we can take advantage of.

As I've mentioned before, change at the UN is a long-term process. I look for successes where possible. The fact that NGOs of all ideological stripes continue to advocate for Beyond 2008 is a milestone in and of itself. These consensus recommendations have increased the expectations of NGOs around the world that the CND will heed its own call for greater NGO engagement and look upon our work with enthusiasm. To ignore or pay passing reference to our work refutes all NGOs as a whole rather than one squeaky wheel. I for one am confident that our work to date has altered the CND’s future course. It may not be a significant change - yet - but it will be. More soon!

Call to Action

2009-03-02T11:25:00.014-05:00

I am back from Vienna, but when I left the discussion was still going on about one word or another. I considered the countless hours we use to wrestle over words and wondered how those statements could turn into action and more importantly how they affect you and me? Just what was I hoping for from the HLS?

In a word – Leadership!

Substantive, accountable, informed and engaged leadership. I want my country and those it negotiates with to look at the Political Declaration as a statement of what to strive for and a sincere commitment to accomplish it.

I want my country to see themselves as personally accountable for the success (or failure) of the HLS. All too often countries (member states in UN lingo) find comfort in saying – “if only the CND would do this or that.” The reality is that leadership is available to every member state who wishes to exercise it.

Diplomacy and politics is a reality for the UN. Sometimes this allows for easing global stresses, other times it impedes doing what is right -- when evidence collides with politics. Yet you can assume that everyone negotiating these agreements is doing their best for their country, but that’s precisely where the cart sometimes ends up in front of the horse. Someone once said that national interests are increasingly trumping international good; and we can certainly point to many examples of that. The danger that it poses to the Political Declaration is that it becomes a document of least common interest as opposed to a compelling vision for change.

This HLS I expect my country to bring its best game to Vienna. NGOs from around the globe have stepped up to the plate through Beyond 2008 and we are ready to take on our responsibilities.

As our respective government delegations prepare for this event I want them to reflect on the expectations placed before them by their citizens and of the opportunity they have in displaying real leadership for the benefit of all. Simply put, we can’t defer all tough discussions and negotiations to the next HLS. That won’t serve anyone. It’s time for the game to change in Vienna.

I’m not talking revolution but evolution. You hear it over coffee, in the corridors or on the U-bahn to the Vienna International Centre. Everyone knows what’s working well and what needs repair. Many lament the mechanistic motions and want to make a real difference in the world.
All is possible if there’s sufficient fire in the belly of our leaders to make it happen. Who’s got the match?

Greetings from Vienna

2009-02-18T16:20:00.010-05:00

I have just arrived in Vienna to observe the “informal/informal” negotiations (no kidding, that is what they are called) on the Political Declaration to be adopted at the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) High Level Segment on March 11-12, 2009. As you may know, preparations to date have been slow. Excruciatingly slow! Persistent debates on terms such as harm reduction have promptly put sand in the oil required to move the CND gears forward –despite “agreed-to language” defining the accepted use of this term in other UN fora.

A silver lining in recent discussions is the United States’ change in stance on the Needle Exchange Programs (NEP) – a complete 180 from just a few years ago when a senior member of the Office on National Drug Control Policy thoroughly denounced NEPs and rejected all evidence in their support to the incredulous dismay of those in attendance at the CND. Clearly though, while President Obama is focused on the economy, he also wants the imprint of his administration to be felt quickly in Vienna. President Obama is also thought to be naming Seattle Chief of Police, Gil Kerlikowske, to the position of US Drug Czar. So rapid change is indeed possible but it takes leadership and commitment from the highest levels.

I for one am keen to know who will lead our Canadian delegation. The Canadian government’s National Anti Drug Strategy is a clear and decisive commitment to investing in prevention and treatment, while addressing enforcement efforts to those who profit most from the drug trade. Government officials have also demonstrated a willingness to work closely with NGOs and my view is that Canada has much to contribute to the HLS and where we need to go from here.

With all said and done, one thing I have learned on this issue, and in particular at the United Nations, is that we need to be in it for the long haul. And by long, I mean years, decades, long. Beyond 2008 established important anchors – within the regions and among the NGOs who participated in those meetings, to the Forum in July and ultimately to the solidarity of our views and recommendations to the CND. NGOs will continue their work, will continue to accept their shared responsibility, and will continue to hold their respective governments and the CND accountable for their actions or inactions. Your voice is immensely important to this ongoing process. We need to collectively overcome cultural, ideological and philosophical divides. We need to show that reducing this argument to a binary equation of ‘you’re either with us or against us” is a trite underestimate of the complexity of the problems and solutions required.

NGOs have already led by example in this regard and we will continue to pressure/urge/cajole governments accordingly as they make their way to the HLS. NGOs are organizing in earnest for the HLS - we are finalizing the list of prospective candidates for the HLS round table discussions and many groups are organizing side events on the margins of the HLS. Stay tuned for more information on this week’s deliberations and more details to come!

Welcome to my Beyond 2008 – towards the UN High Level Segment blog

2009-02-02T14:31:00.009-05:00

Do you remember where you were on June 8-10, 1998? I do. I was attending the United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on Illicit Drugs watching leaders of the world adopt a political declaration and seven action plans towards a drug-free world in 10 years. I was a government member of the Canadian delegation back then, representing the Department of the Solicitor General. I also vaguely recall some form of “NGO Village” that was on the outskirts of the UN venue, but apart from that – this was a government event. Never for a moment did I think that I would have a part in the review of this global commitment to address drug abuse ten years later.

Things changed quickly for me after the UNGASS in 1999. In the Fall of that year, I accepted a job as Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse and there’s been no looking back since then.

While my duties initially focused entirely on re-building CCSA, I also found myself attending meetings of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) in Vienna, but this time as an NGO. Very different indeed! I was fortunate that the Canadian government always included me as a member of their delegation. I was quick to contribute my (many) opinions on the various resolutions being debated at CND, and Canada very much led by example by bringing the NGO voice to the CND. It was also in these early years that I heard about the Vienna NGO Committee (VNGOC) on Narcotic Drugs. I decided to investigate further and quickly found myself contributing to the Committee’s re-launch.

Starting with an early strategic plan, NGO mini forums and participating as an NGO representative at CND events, the VNGOC quickly found its legs and we were off to the races in strengthening the voice of NGOs to this unique forum called CND – basically the global drug parliament.

Fast forward to July 2008 – Vienna – and the conclusions of Beyond 2008 where 300 NGO representatives from across the globe adopted an historic Declaration and three Resolutions by consensus, aimed specifically at providing practical, pragmatic and specific recommendations to governments as they hunker down and try to come up with a ‘where to from here’ strategy at the High Level Segment (HLS) meeting in March 2009.

High Level Segment, Declaration, Resolutions – Zzzzz. What in the world do these have to do with me? is a question I often get asked. Let’s put it this way: each and every Canadian drug law must conform with three international drug control conventions that Canada is a signatory to. Those laws play out in the lives of Canadians from coast to coast to coast – from the teenager picked up with cannabis to the plight of those who live with addictions in the downtown eastside of Vancouver. The impact of those laws – whether positive or negative, is a consequence of Canada’s interpretation and application of international drug control conventions. Those Conventions are drafted, shaped and managed by the countries represented at the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND). The CND High Level Segment is meant to reaffirm commitment to the Conventions and to chart a course for the years to come.

Enter NGOs. You know who you are. Those who work on the ground, face to face with those who need help, hope and real guidance to deal with their addiction problems. I often say that NGOs are ‘lifers’ in the world of drug policy as many of us stay in our positions far longer than the government folks we work with on a regular basis. Our collective, long-term experience is a true wealth of knowledge – and opportunity – if given the chance to be shared.

The obvious challenge is how to draw upon that knowledge not only here in Canada, but in each and every country of the world. Was that possible I asked myself? There are literally hundreds of thousands of NGOs working in this field, but rarely, if ever, had we come together with a common purpose to capitalize on our expertise. I looked enviously upon the AIDS community who had done an extraordinary job of achieving exactly what we needed to do. I consulted with several people who played a key role in that work and, despite some well-intentioned warnings about undertaking such a task, Beyond 2008, a global NGO consultation on the 1998-2008 review of the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on Illicit Drugs, was born.

Stay tuned for my next post that will describe where we are in the process towards the HLS.