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Jun 22 '21, 8:00 AM - Jun 25 '21, 5:00 PM
Third WHO Forum on Alcohol, other Drugs and Addictive Behaviours (virtual)
Accelerating public health actions and addressing new challenges during the pandemic
FADAB 3, the third WHO Forum on Alcohol, other Drugs and Addictive Behaviours is held virtually and organized by the Alcohol, Drugs and Addictive Behaviors (ADA) Unit, within the Department of Mental Health and Substance Use at World Health Organization (WHO).
Purpose
The primary goal of the 3rd WHO Forum on Alcohol, Drugs and Addictive Behaviours (FADAB) is to boost international partnerships and collaboration to accelerate and sustain public health actions aimed at reducing the health and social burden due to substance use and addictive behaviours.
Program
FADAB3 is planned for four days. The first three days will provide an opportunity to discuss a variety of topics organized around several major thematic tracks addressing the public health dimensions of:
- alcohol use;
- psychoactive drug use;
- addictive behaviours (gaming and gambling); and
- cross-cutting issues, including the impact of COVID-19 on substance use, addictive behaviours and service provision.
The fourth day of the Forum will provide an opportunity for representatives of civil society organizations and other public health oriented organizations, networks and institutions to discuss drafts of the global alcohol action plan (2022-2030) and technical issues related to cross-border alcohol marketing.
The provisional program of work and more details about the Forum will be available at the FADAB3 online site.
Download the FADAB3 flyer
You can download the information flyer on the 3rd FADAB here.
Registration*
Please register through a link provided by WHO along with a personal invitation. After approval of your registration by the WHO, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
*Invitation to FADAB3 is personal. Suggesting participants to WHO can be done by providing their name, email address, and area of expertise (alcohol, drugs and/or addictive behaviours) to the ADA unit.
FADAB3 topics
The third FADAB takes place in the context of the evolving COVID-19 pandemic that presents new challenges for public health actions aimed at reducing the health and social burden due to use of alcohol, psychoactive drugs and addictive behaviours. At the same time, the pandemic has prompted development and acceleration of some policy and program measures and adjustments that have the potential to bring public health benefits after the pandemic is over. Lessons learned during the pandemic and priorities for better preparedness for health emergencies regarding substance use and addictive behaviours will be discussed during the Forum.
In February 2020, the WHO Executive Board requested the WHO Director-General to develop an action plan (2022-2030) to effectively implement the Global Alcohol Strategy as a public health priority and to develop the technical report on cross-border alcohol marketing issues. The Third FADAB provides an opportunity to discuss drafts of the global action plan, the above-mentioned technical report and implementation of the SAFER initiative to reduce alcohol harm.
FADAB3 will also address progress achieved after five years of implementation of commitments made at the UN General Assembly Special Session on the world drug problem, and opportunities for enhancing public health actions in this area.
Despite the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, FADAB3 will discuss progress achieved in relation to SDG 2030 health target 3.5 on strengthening prevention and treatment of substance use and substance use disorders with a special focus on progress with achievement of Universal Health Coverage for people affected by disorders due to substance use and addictive behaviours.
The Forum will provide an opportunity for WHO Secretariat and its partners to present key products and activities that have been or are in the process of being developed to support countries in their efforts to reduce the public health burden due to substance use and addictive behaviours.
Finally, the Third FADAB will also discuss new opportunities and mechanisms for intensified international collaboration on public health dimensions of alcohol, other drugs and addictive behaviours in line with WHO strategic objectives to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable.
