Workshop examines alcohol, tobacco and illicit substance abuse in Africa

Brazzaville, 5 December 2006 -- Mental health specialists from eight countries on Monday in Brazzaville began a four-day workshop on the prevention, management and treatment of psychoactive substance use disorders in the African region.

The workshop will discuss the harmful use of alcohol, tobacco, illicit substances and the disorders associated with them.

Opening the workshop, WHO regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Sambo, said that countries in the region should institute and continue to enforce measures to curb the use of these substances which could lead to acute and chronic disorders, sometimes resulting in violence, sudden death, behavioural disorders and difficulties in professional, familial and social adaptation, as well as an increase in HIV infection through unsafe sex and injection drug use.

Dr Sambo’s statement was read on his behalf by the Director of the Dvision of Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases at the WHO Regional Office for Africa, Dr Rufaro Chatora

The Regional Director referred to a three-year study (2003 – 2005) in some Member States which showed that 17% to 42% of 13 to 15 year old children consumed alcohol until they were drunk; 7% to 38% had used illicit drugs such as cannabis, cocaine or crack, and nearly 15% used methaqualone while 13% sniffed solvents.This situation calls for urgent corrective action by Member States.

Describing the findings of the survey as “disturbing”, he said that existing interventions which combine approaches that prioritize prevention and early detection could be planned and implemented at different levels of the health care system and especially at the primary level to help mitigate the problem.

The objective of the workshop is to contribute to building capacity in countries to improve the management of psychoactive substance harmful use as well as disorders associated with them.

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