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EXPERT GROUP ON ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE USE

Background, composition, objectives, activities, documents and members

Background

Harmful use of alcohol, illicit drugs, tobacco and other psychoactive substances is one of the major public health concerns within the Northern Dimension area and has severe impact on public health systems. The burden of psychoactive substance use is enormous not only for the affected individuals, but for the whole society. Every year the substance use related harm generates costs of billions of euros to health systems in the Northern Dimension area. As hazardous and harmful use of alcohol and other psychoactive substances is considered one of the most important risk factors to health, there is a need to share experiences and expertise in the field of preventing those negative impacts and to take concrete action to mitigate hazardous impact of substance abuse.

In accordance with the Declaration concerning the establishment of a NDPHS, the Partnership places great emphasis on improving the co-operation and co-ordination in the prevention of life-style related non-communicable diseases and focuses on prevention of major public health problems like use of illicit drugs, alcohol, and smoking. From 2006 until mid-2010, activities in this area were fostered by the then Expert Group on Social Inclusion, Healthy Lifestyles and Work Ability, and from mid-2010 they are being implemented by the Expert Group on Alcohol and Substance Use (ASA EG) The meeting documents of these groups can, respectively, be found here and here.

Following the adoption of the NDPHS Strategy 2020 and the Action Plan accompanying it, which define specific objectives, results and linked to them concrete activities, in October 2015, the NDPHS Committee of Senior Representatives (CSR) renewed the mandate of the Expert Group on Alcohol and Substance Abuse. New Terms of Reference for the ASA EG were adopted by the CSR, which tasked the group with the facilitatation and implementation of the Objective 4: Reduced social and health harm from alcohol, tobacco and illicit use of drugs - through strengthening and promotion of multi-sectoral approaches as specified in the NDPHS Strategy 2020. The ASA Expert Group will, together with other bodies of the NDPHS, contribute to achieving the Horizontal results defined in the Action Plan accompanying the NDPHS Strategy 2020.

Composition

The ASA EG is comprised of high-level experts who come from national ministries and agencies of Partner Countries and Organisations, the research community, NGOs and other relevant parties. The Expert Group’s work is led by the Lead Partner (Norway). The list of the members of the ASA EG is provided further down.

All eligible stakeholders are welcome to provide input to the ASA EG’s current and future activities. External experts are also invited to participate in the group’s meetings, as appropriate.

Aims and functions

In accordance with the above-mentioned Declaration concerning the establishment of a NDPHS, under the guidance of the CSR, an Expert Group may have an advisory role and/or provide professional input to the preparation and implementation of joint activities carried out within the framework of the Partnership. Also, the Declaration permits Expert Groups to “facilitate professional exchanges, increase co-ordination among Partners and Participants and monitor joint activities within their area of expertise.” Consistent with these provisions, the Expert Group has the following functions:
 

• Exchange information and knowledge about best practices to assist the partner countries in achieving the objectives defined in the NDPHS Strategy 2020;
• Use available statistical and epidemiological information from official sources to assist decision makers and contribute to the achievement of the objectives defined in the NDPHS Strategy 2020;
• Identify priorities, needs for support in developing policies and gaps in their implementation;
• Initiate projects, provide when possible, support in planning, monitoring and dissemination of results;
• Provide the Partnership website/database/newsletters with information concerning the Expert Group’s work;
• Provide feedback and report on progress to the CSR;
• Co-ordinate its activities with other NDPHS structures, relevant groups and international networks in areas of mutual interest in a manner that promotes synergies and avoids the duplication of efforts and supports the achievement of objectives included in the NDPHS Strategy 2020;
• Contribute to proper discharging of the Partnership’s responsibilities as the Coordinator for the Health Policy Area in the Action Plan of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region together with other NDPHS structures, as appropriate;
• Be open to innovate and employ new methods of work to improve collaboration between the partner countries and other relevant stakeholders. Document CSR 24/9.3/1 “New approaches for future collaboration within the NDPHS” can provide suggestions in this regard;
• Other relevant responsibilities, as approved by the CSR or the Partnership Annual Conference (PAC).

Activities

The Expert Group's activities follow the priorities set out in the NDPHS Strategy 2020 and the Action Plan accompanying it and are being implemented in accordance with the NDPHS Annual work plans.

Presently, the Group's activities include:
 

• Continuing review of the nature and extent of the problems caused by alcohol in Partner Countries, prevalence and impact, and the opportunities and possible constraints in establishing new policies and programmes;
• Initiating a “Policy development project,” with the aim to work out optional Policy recommendations to contribute to governmental programmes addressing alcohol-related harms, based on analysis of existing policies and review of international experience;
• Continuing participation in the EU Joint Action Plan on Reducing the Alcohol Related Harm (RARHA) and facilitating the dissemination of result (cross-country comparable data on levels and patterns of alcohol consumption and alcohol related harms experienced due to alcohol use);
• Initiating a project on “cannabis usage in the Northern Dimension area” with the aim of formulating policy recommendations for improving the cannabis policy including treatment and early intervention offers;
• Continuing its close collaboration with the WHO Euro office in implementing common and joint actions to support the European implementation of the global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol.

Meetings

The ASA EG holds approximately 2 meetings per year. Specific information about current and past meetings, including meeting documents and minutes can be accessed on the Expert Group meetings web page.

Documents and minutes of the formerly operating SIHLWA EG and ADPY TG, which were, inter alia, covering the issues dealt with by the ASA EG, can be accessed here.

Calendar

View all calendar events of relevance to the ASA EG. Learn more about other sections of our calendar. 

Progress reports

Every year the NDPHS Expert Groups prepare progress reports. These reports are prepared in accordance with the Template for monitoring and reporting of the NDPHS progress and are submitted to every autumn CSR meeting and/or PAC event (they can be download here). With reference to the NDPHS Strategy 2020 and the accompanying NDPHS Action Plan, they, inter alia, present the progress towards the agreed targets and take stock of achievements made, as well as describe further action required, obstacles encountered and, finally, the sustainability and expected long-term impact of the group’s activities.

Further information 

Visit the NDPHS Database, which provides a number of papers (publications, newsletters, etc.), thematic reports developed by the ASA EG, and projects, dealing with alcohol and substance abuse issues. It also provides a pool of organisations and experts, which have been working in this area. The Database contains four sections. By clicking the links below, you will gain direct access to activities and expertise in the field of mitigation of hazardous impact of substance abuse in the NDPHS Database, sorted by:
 

• Papers
• Projects
• Persons
• Organisations
   

Please note that you can also submit your own information on mitigation of hazardous impact of substance abuse to the Database (read more).