NorDAN Conference: ALCOHOL, DRUGS AND HARM TO OTHERS: Victims as part of the solution

European experts gathered together last 10 – 11 October at the annual Nordan conference in Tallin (Estonia).

This year, the main focus of the conference was the harm caused by alcohol and drugs to people other that the drinker and/or the drug user.

The political debate on what should be done to prevent the harm caused by harful and hazardous use of alcohol and drugs often focuses on the individual user and often from a medical / health perspective overlooking the fact that the use of alcohol and drugs are important risk factors for the public health and social wellbeing of the citizens in the Nordic and Baltic countries.

Participants at the conference looked ways to measure the public health and economic importance of alcohol and drug related accidents, injuries, violence and children's neglect in families negatively affected by alcohol and / or drugs and at innovative and effective policies and programmes to prevent reduce and prevent this harm and provide support to the victims.

The papers and presentations delivered during the conference can be found at

http://www.nordan.org/conference2008/documentation.htm