APPEAL TO GLOBAL HEALTH COMMUNITY

“STATEMENT OF CONCERN” ABOUT THE INCREASING INVOLVEMENT OF THE ALCOHOL INDUSTRY IN PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD

On October 8, 2012, thirteen of world’s largest alcohol producers issued a set of commitments to reduce the harmful use of alcohol worldwide.  The commitments were issued in support of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol.

An independent coalition of public health professionals, health scientists and NGO representatives has written a public “Statement of Concern” that is addressed to the WHO Director General in response to the recent initiatives of the global alcohol producers. The Statement documents the alcohol industry’s lack of support for effective alcohol policies, their misinterpretation of the Global Strategy’s provisions, and their lobbying against effective public health measures.  The coalition is seeking 500 endorsements from the global health community.

Qualified professionals throughout the world are being asked to review the Statement of Concern (http://www.globalgapa.org/) and indicate their endorsement by sending an email to the office of the Global Alcohol Policy Alliance Global Alcohol Policy Alliance (GAPA) at gapa@ias.org.uk.

TIME TO END DECADES OF INDECISION OVER INDIGENOUS INCARCERATION

“It’s time for all governments to address more public health focused approaches to handling growth in Indigenous prison populations,” according to the President of the Alcohol and other Drugs Council of Australia (ADCA), Dr Mal Washer MP.

“Alternatives have existed for years,” Dr Washer said, “and we need to act on them without any further deliberation by committees, working groups or parliamentary inquiries.”

Dr Washer was speaking after today’s release of the report, An Economic Analysis for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Offenders; Prisons vs Residential Treatment,commissioned by the Australian National Council on Drugs (ANCD) and the National Indigenous Drug and Alcohol Committee (NIDAC). The report says greater investment in drug and alcohol treatment will reduce the ever-increasing number of Indigenous people in prisons.

“It’s clearly wrong that the same group that makes up only 2.5 per cent of our people accounts for more than a quarter of Australia’s adult prison population. We need rehabilitation programs to keep Indigenous people out of Australia’s 115 correctional facilities – to prevent their getting caught up in the endless round of recidivism and attendant drug and health problems,” Dr Washer said.

The report by Deloitte Access Economics identifies annual savings in excess of $111,000 per prisoner if they can be diverted to rehabilitation programs rather than being incarcerated. That’s in addition to a more than $92,000 per offender saved in the long term due to lower mortality and a better health regime.

Dr Washer cited the US where prisons in Texas are closing partly due to a shift in policy that favours rehabilitation programs over prison sentences. “Only weeks ago, it was reported that the new approach had led to 10,000 vacancies in Texas prisons.

“We have known this to be the case for years. As the so-called War on Drugs has shown to be an abject failure after more than three decades, so too has the lock-em-upmentality where Indigenous justice is concerned.”

ADCA CEO David Templeman says that with our prisons overflowing – largely with people convicted of non-violent crimes yet suffering from serious drug and alcohol problems – it is surely time to turn against the tide of imprisonment and embrace a meaningful policy of care, treatment and rehabilitation.

Press release from PHAA:

Nicola Roxon wins highest public health award for 2012

PHAA Sidney Sax Medal awarded to former Health and Ageing Minister

Attorney-General, Hon Nicola Roxon MP has been announced as the Sidney Sax Medallist for 2012.  This is the highest award given annually by the Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA) to a person who has made an outstanding contribution to public health.  The Medal will be presented at a public health dinner this evening by PHAA’s Immediate Past President, Professor Helen Keleher.

 

“The PHAA is proud to present an award to someone who has really made a difference in public health,” said Professor Keleher in making the announcement.  “As Minister for Health and Ageing Nicola Roxon embraced public health, understood the role of social determinants and recognised the importance of prevention.  Most importantly, however, she was prepared to take action including standing up to big tobacco and vested interests in the alcohol industry in favour of a healthier community.

 

“Nicola Roxon’s own words in response to a question when she was launching the report of the Preventative Health Taskforce in October 2009 summarises her approach: ‘we are killing people by not acting’.  As Health Minister from December 2007 through to December 2011 and then as Attorney-General she has pursued public health issues with vigour and with considerable success,” said Professor Keleher.

 

The most prominent achievement is the world leading plain packaging of tobacco legislation which has only been successful due to her outstanding leadership.  There are also many other achievements in fighting tobacco including a 25% increase in excise on tobacco, a ban on internet promotion, a boost for funding of anti-tobacco campaigns through the National Preventive Health Agency and a $125 million program to tackle Indigenous Smoking.

 

However, her other outstanding achievements cited in the nomination include:

• The establishment of the Australian National Preventive Health Agency (ANPHA)
• Facing down the spirits industry over the “alcopops” tax – reducing the number of young women introduced to spirits in early puberty
• An additional $50 million into campaigns around binge drinking
• Oversight of the biggest increase ever in funding to prevention of $872.1 million from Federal, State and Territory contributions

o   Seeking healthier communities through careful targeting of specific groups and settings including children, Indigenous people, workers and local governments.

 

“The PHAA is proud to have Nicola Roxon accept this award from the Association as it highlights the impact that a Minister can have when they are prepared to provide leadership in the area of public health,” concluded Professor Keleher.