Alcohol and drug problems

The substances of abuse are many, but alcohol normally being the most prominent, both in distribution and in number of users. On the other hand, a majority of the world’s 6,6 billion people are still not using alcohol or illegal drugs.

The use of intoxicants like alcohol and marihuana constitute a special challenge in developing societies. The challenge is two-sided: Alcohol- and drug-related problems become an additional stone to the burden of individuals, families and communities which have too many burdens to carry already; poverty, malnutrition, malaria, TB, hiv/aids, economic marginalization, unemployment etc.

On the other hand; experience shows that once developing societies have managed to start reducing poverty problems and create economic growth, alcohol consumption tends to rise. This in turn result in increasing health and social problems. This web site presents knowledge and tools that can be used to make alcohol and drug prevention a part of development strategies, both from governments and from NGOs.