About the Second World Forum Against Drugs

Countries have worked together for 100 years in order to prevent the problem of abuse of narcotic drugs. Much has been achieved by this but all the same millions of people in the world are addicted to drugs and much, much more can be done in the future to prevent young people from experimenting with illegal drugs and thus expose themselves to the risk of becoming addicted.

World Forum Against Drugs is a meeting place for people from all continents who are working to prevent drug abuse at grass-root, on a voluntary basis, professionally or as policy makers. The global forum is the only one of its kind where NGOs, self-help groups, treatment centres, scholars, local, regional and national authorities, politicians and other decision-makers, the business community, and others from around the world will meet to share ideas and experiences about the work against illicit drugs, based on a balanced and restrictive policy.

The 2nd World Forum Against Drugs took place in Stockholm, Sweden on May 24-25. Over 300 people gathered from well over 50 countries in Stockholm City Conference Center. 44 speakers made presentations at plenary sessions and special sessions.

The three main themes at the Forum were:

• new research on cannabis
• the drug situation in subsaharan Africa
• adult drug abuse and its influence on children

The Forum was arranged under the high patronage of H.M. Queen Silvia of Sweden. The Forum had been made possible by generous financial support from the Ministry of Health in Sweden and the City of Stockholm.

The 1st Forum was also held in Stockholm and was hosted by a group of Swedish anti-drug organisations. After the 1st Forum they founded the World Federation Against Drugs, WFAD, the host of the 2nd Forum. And on May 26, after the 2nd Forum was over, the first Congress of WFAD was held. Around 50 delegates elected the Board and decided about an Action plan for the coming two years.

One decision made at the Congress was to urge the Board to make plans for the 3rd Forum, preferably in Mexico during 2012.

queen silviaHer Majesty Queen Silvia.

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