International Blue Cross News

Interview with Mr Peter Abetz, Member of Parliament of West Australia

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000

International Blue Cross: Peter, at the beginning of this year, you and your colleagues from the Education and Health Standing Committee of the West Australian parliament were on a fact-finding trip through Europe on the adequacy of prevention and treatment services for alcohol and illicit drug problems. Could you briefly explain the context and purpose of this trip?

Peter Abetz: The consumption of illicit drugs and alcohol is a major problem in Western Australia. The Education and Health Standing Committee of the West Australian parliament was authorised by the parliament to do a comprehensive inquiry into treatment services available for people with these problems and also to look at what could be done to prevent people from starting to use drugs and alcohol. The purpose of our trip was to learn from the European experience and see if any of their successful programmes could be adapted to our situation. Likewise, we wanted to see what has failed in Europe, so that we don’t make the same mistakes!

IBC: We had the honour of meeting you in Geneva on 3rd February 2011 for a hearing on our experience in evidence-based practices in prevention and treatment. Could you share with us your main impressions about our work and the key points you wish to emphasise with regard to the discussion we had?

P. A.: As the Blue Cross does not have a presence in Australia, I really knew nothing about its work before coming to Geneva. What impressed me about the Blue Cross is that it is a “bottom up” umbrella organisation, formed by people doing the work, at the grass roots level. I was also very impressed by its holistic approach, to the issue of prevention and rehabilitation and its recognition that the family is such a foundational issue in protecting children from drug addiction. From my own experience as a pastor for 25 years, I knew that a strong family is probably the greatest protection that parents can give their offspring against heading into the drug culture. I was also impressed by the fact that Blue Cross has the courage to put its focus on helping people to live a drug free lifestyle, rather than just “harm minimisation”. I also found Mr Lux’s emphasis on the “therapeutic chain” a very helpful concept.

IBC: In your perception, what distinguishes the International Blue Cross from other health development organisations you have met in the course of your journey?

P. A.: What disturbs me about many organisations working with people who are addicted to drugs, is that they view addiction as an incurable condition and therefore no real attempt is made to help addicts move to a drug free life style. Indeed some organisations tell them that there is no way forward other than to use drugs in a way that minimises the harm. I found Blue Cross was refreshingly different in that it has a clear objective of helping people to become drug free, which also sends a message to addicts that there is hope! Another factor that sets Blue Cross apart is its recognition of the importance of a healthy family in preventing drug addiction and the fact that there is often a spiritual dimension that also needs to be addressed. Through its Christian roots, Blue Cross is well positioned to do this.

IBC: Today we know that alcohol consumption is the world’s third largest risk factor for disease and disability (WHO, 2011). What are your personal thoughts about this alarming reality? And, in your eyes, what should be the main role of international organisations like the Blue Cross?

P. A.: I believe addiction is like an unfenced cliff. For too long we have stationed ambulances and well-trained staff at the bottom of the cliff to try and help those who have fallen. But I believe that government policy is the fence at the top of the cliff that is so badly needed. Sound government policy that restricts access to the cliff – such as reducing availability and sound education programmes – is absolutely essential; and I think Blue Cross is fighting addiction at every level – being the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff and calling on governments to build the best fence at the top of the cliff! That is a very valuable role to play. Governments must have the political will to put in place laws and regulations which limit the availability of alcohol, to enforce those laws, and to fund appropriate educational programmes. Without groups like the Blue Cross, governments often shy away from making the hard decisions.

IBC: Peter: One final question, as a result of your trip – what do you believe you have learnt that has been of particular value when thinking about future policy debates on this subject in your own region of West Australia?

P. A.: I think our trip has impressed on me several things. I have been surprised at how much one can learn from a 2 week trip visiting various countries and talking with people who work in the same field. One thing that this trip has also shown me is that there is overwhelming evidence that the way forward in reducing drug addiction needs to be a multi-pronged approach. Education on its own is not very effective, but when coupled with sound government policy it is a powerful weapon. We need to teach our children to say NO to drugs and alcohol, but governments must also put in place appropriate policies, such as limiting availability, as I said earlier. Further, policies that help families to be strong, stable and cohesive units in society, particularly in the younger years of a child’s life must be enacted and implemented.

"Drinking is dangerous"

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Bathabile Dlamini, South African Minister of Social Development, supports in a pathbreaking statement the government's intended ban on advertising alcohol. The statement is a reaction to the alcohol and advertising industries' petition aimed at pressuring government to abandon its strategy on evidence-based, more restrictive alcohol policies. To find out more, click here.

Alcoholic liver disease taking its toll on the young

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000

By Richard Bilton
BBC News - UK

Liver disease is now the country's fifth biggest killer and cases of alcoholic liver disease in the under-30s have risen by half in the past 10 years, says the Department of Health. The coalition wants a "drink strategy" with input from both the health lobby and the drinks industry, but can they work together? To find out more, click here.

Global Alcohol Policy Conference 2012

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000

13 - 15 February 2012, Nonthaburi, Thailand.

The consumption of alcohol makes a significant contribution to alcohol related harm globally. In emerging markets and among younger groups increased consumption is apparent. The WHO Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol, endorsed by 193 countries in 2010, is an important milestone in global efforts to reduce harmful use of alcohol. Effective policy is still not implemented as widely as is needed. A concerted effort in controlling alcohol related harm will need to involve multiple partners, including academia, civil society organisations and government bodies. Global cooperation can play a significant role in supporting and complementing worldwide national and local actions.

The Global Alcohol Policy Conference 2011 is jointly organised by government, intergovernmental and the NGO sector. The Thai Ministry of Public Health, the World Health Organisation, the Global Alcohol Policy Alliance and the Thai Health Promotion Foundation are co hosts of the Global Alcohol Policy Conference 2011. The conference will be another important milestone for global alcohol control efforts following on from the endorsement of the WHO Global Strategy. The conference will bring together leaders from all over the world who are committed to working towards the development and implementation of effective alcohol policies that are guided and formulated by public health interests.

The International Blue Cross will participate in the Conference to share its wide experience on alcohol policy in developing countries.

For more detailed information about the Conference, click here.

�Thaba Bosiu� Rehabilitation Centre turns 20

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000

It was on the 2nd September, 1991, when the Thaba Bosiu Rehabilitation Centre in Lesotho started operating and opened its doors to scores of alcohol and drug dependent people to help address their specific rehabilitation and support needs. At the 20th anniversary, celebrated on the 3rd October 2011, over a hundred friends, well-wishers and former clients gathered in Maseru to commemorate two decades of dedicated and committed work.

Those who had the privilege to be at the 'birthday bash’, were treated to a varied and highly interesting programme in honour of the 20 years of existence of the Centre. The programme comprised not just the customary speeches from government representatives but also cultural activities and – last but certainly not least – a great variety of delicious local dishes!

Thaba Bosiu Rehabilitation Centre has, in the past years, helped innumerable people rediscover a life free of addiction. The strength of the Centre lies in the unparalleled quality of its treatment services nationwide and its unique therapy approach which incorporates the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions in all its care. This success story is the result of a fruitful collaboration between Blue Cross Lesotho and Norway.

The establishment of a drug rehabilitation centre in Lesotho was a dire necessity, given the complete absence of private or public therapy possibilities for addicted people and their close ones in Lesotho in the early 90s. Consequently, when Blue Cross Lesotho – drawing on the support, expertise, and experience of Blue Cross Norway – opened its Rehabilitation Centre in 1991, it helped close a gap in a country severely affected by substance misuse.

Ms Matsepo Letlola, current director of the Centre, states: “We are very grateful to see the steady growth in the impact our Centre’s activities are having. They make a real difference in the lives of our clients. And we are proud to report that since January 2005, the Centre is fully government funded, a clear sign of the commitment from the government and the centre's centrality to the country's substance misuse management strategy.”

Conclusion of new WHO report: Global alcohol companies use unethical marketing instruments in Africa

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

23 June 2011 - International alcohol companies misbehave in the African continent. The dominating and unethical character of alcohol marketing of these companies in African countries strengthens the urgent need to increase legislation on alcohol advertising in the African continent. That is one of the main conclusions of a new report published by the World Health Organization (WHO).

An independent monitoring exercise

The report is the first product of cooperation between EUCAM the European Centre for Monitoring Alcohol Marketing, STAP the Dutch Institute for Alcohol Policy and the WHO, called MAMPA, Monitoring Alcohol Marketing in Africa. The report gives an overview of alcohol marketing practices and regulations in Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria, and Uganda.

Global alcohol producers misbehave in Africa

Since the alcohol market is saturated in Europe and other western countries, global alcohol producers invest more and more money into marketing the product in developing countries. Marketing practices that are seen as unacceptable in Europe are used widely in Africa by well-known players such as Carlsberg, Anheuser-Busch, and Heineken. The WHO report shows that company rules of alcohol producers based in Europe are not adhered to when marketing the product in the African countries monitored.

According to most self-regulation codes in Europe and most company rules, alcohol advertisements may not be placed within 500 feet of schools (e.g. Diageo Code of Conduct) or when more than 30 percent of the expected spectators is underaged (e.g. AB InBev Code and European Self-regulation Code). Nevertheless, the WHO report shows illustrations of alcohol billboards in front of elementary schools, secondary schools, and playgrounds.

According to EU law (AVMSD 2007) and most self-regulation codes (e.g. European self-regulation code art 3.1) alcohol marketing communications should not depict images, impressions, symbols, music, characters (either real or fictitious) that primarily appeal to persons below 18 years-old. Nevertheless, global alcohol companies use cartoons to market their product on African television.

Connections between alcohol and wealth are used commonly in alcohol advertisements, e.g. Nigeria’s Star Big Life campaign markets the message that drinking Star beer is the beginning of the ‘big life’. The latter is especially disturbing when realizing that drinking alcohol is one of the indicators that predict poverty.

The full report can be found online at the website of WHO African Region.

Source: Eucam News, www.eucam.info