Drug dependence and alcoholism (Resolution)

REGIONAL COMMITTEE: TWENTY-SIXTH SESSION (b) development of data bases for national and regional purposes; (c) identification of national and regional priorities in research; (d) establishment of national and regional mechanisms for the promotion and coordination of research; (e) where necessary, establishment of national medical research councils or analogous groups; (f) training of manpower in research; and (g) establishment of a regional advisory committee on medical research to advise the Regional Director on research activities that might be considered by the Regional Committee for development; 5. RECOMMENDS that the Regional Director arrange a feasibility study for the establishment of a WHO regional centre for research and training in tropical diseases, including consideration of the effects of malnutrition in tropical infectious diseases, notably parasitic infections, as part of the network of WHO collaborating centres being developed for this purpose, and to report the results of such a study to the twenty-seventh session of the Regional Committee; 6. EXPRESSES the hope that Member States and voluntary agencies will make funds and other resources available for research activities in the Region. Fifth meeting, 4 September 1975 wpR/RC26.Rl1 DRUG DEPENDElCE AND AICOHOLISM The Regional Committee, Having considered the progress report provided by the Regional Director in connexion with resolution wpR/Rc25.R3 on the above-mentioned subject,1 ~ocument WPRjRc26/10. REPORT OF THE REGIONAL COMMITlEE 1. NOTES with satisfaction the acti vi ties already undertaken by WHO and the progress accomplished; 2. WELCOMES the recommendations of the working group on measures for the prevention and control of drug dependence; 3. EXPRESSES the hope that experience gained from the current programme will be widely shared and will lead to the active involvement of Member States in the development of effective methods for controlling drug dependence and alcoholism; 4. URGES governments to initiate and intensify programmes of education, legislation, treatment and rehabilitation and to maintain effective monitoring systems in order to assess the problem, rapidly detect new trends, and identify localities and population groups where the problem of drug abuse and alcoholism is severe; 5. REQUESTS the Regional Director to continue and further strengthen the efforts to: (a) assist Member States in collecting epidemiological data and devising monitoring systems, developing and improving action programmes to combat drug dependence and alcoholism, training national personnel, and establishing treatment and rehabilitation services for drug dependants; and (b) coordinate efforts and disseminate information on programmes for the control of drug dependence including alcoholism; 6. CALLS the attention of the Member States to the assistance that may be available to them from the United Nations Fund for Drug Abuse Control; 7. REQUESTS the Regional Director to include the topic of alcoholism as a separate agenda item at the next session of the Regional Committee and to prepare a report on this subject in collaboration with the governments of the Region prior to that session. Fifth meeting, 4 September 1975 35