Organizers

The Nordic Alcohol and Drug Policy Network
(NordAN Nordiskt Alkohol- och Narkotikapolitiskt samarbete)

NordAN was established in September 2000 as a network of voluntary organizations who all worked to reduce the consumption of alcohol and other drugs and who supported a restrictive alcohol and drug policy and who did not receive contributions from the commercial alcohol industry. Acting on these principles NordAN today have grown to have 88 non-governmental, voluntary member organisations in all the eight Nordic and Baltic countries (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden), all active in the alcohol and drug field.

Member organisations are involved in advocacy, education and training of voluntary and professional community workers, counselling, residential and treatments services for drinkers, users of drugs and their families, in workplace actions and school based programmes as well as in public information.

The NordAN assembly of representatives is the highest decision making body of the network and meets annually during the political conference of NordAN. The annual conferences are organised in corporation with member organisation from a different country each year and often held upon an actual theme of overriding importance.

The NordAN board is responsible for the daily management of the network and consists of a president elected by the entire assembly of representatives and one representative from each member country elected only by the members of the assembly coming from that country.
Policy statements are adopted either by the assembly of representatives or by the board when appropriate like the NordAN contribution to the WHO public hearing on the creation of a global alcohol strategy autumn 2008.

As a network NordAN advocates the prevention and reducing of alcohol- and drug related harm through effective evidence based alcohol- and drug policy in the Nordic and Baltic countries.
The actual NordAN priorities in the Nordic and Baltic region is to Establish a forum for the members that, promotes a broad debate on alcohol and drugs – with the aim of attracting new members, exchange good practice and inform about current issues. Engage in advocacy at Nordic, Baltic, Northern Dimension level. Be informed about international developments on alcohol and drugs relevant to the Nordic and Baltic region and to Work on internal weaknesses and disagreements in particular on drugs. The specific goals and task is described in the Action Plan of 2009 agreed on by the assembly of representatives.

The NordAN Alcohol Policy Platform was adopted by the NordAN assembly of representatives in Reykjavik 2007.

UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs have march 2009 agreed on a new Political Declaration and a Plan of  Action on International Cooperation towards an integrated and Balanced Strategy to Counter the World Drug Problem. On the basis of these documents NordAN are conducting a process that aims to revise and update the NordAN Drug Policy Platform and create the basis of a partnership with the Baltic NGO Network against drugs, situated in St. Petersburg in the Russian Federation.

NordAN is represented in the Nordic Alcohol Experts Group of the Nordic Council of Minsters (NCM)

NordAN is represented i the Social Inclusion, Healthy Lifestyles & Work Ability – Expert Group (SIHLWA EG) of the Northern Dimension Partnership for Public Health and Social Welbeing (NDPHS).

NordAN is associated member of the European Alcohol Policy Alliance; EUROCARE

NordAN is collaborating partner in the Building Capacity for Action Project and thus represented in the Alcohol Policy Network committee. (APN)

NordAN is a member of the European Alcohol and Health Forum of the European Commissions Health and Consumer Protection / Public Health and Risk Assessment, Directorate General. (AHF)

Read more on www.nordan.org ...

Finnish Centre for Health Promotion

The Finnish Centre for Health Promotion (FCHP) aims to increase the functionality of communities and the possibilities of individual persons to manage their everyday life by enabling health-supporting choices in ways that increase the equality between various population groups. This goal requires our society to adopt the health promotion as an integral part of public policy.
We work in collaboration with actors in various related fields, especially in supporting health-promoting activities of our member organisations. We have 127 members, representing organisations in the health sector and other communities.
Development Manager Ritva Varamäki leads team called Substance Abuse Prevention Work at FCHP, which has responsibility of this conference practices.  Team also act as an active participant and take part to societal conversation and decision-making. Team support with its own actions to people substance use control and activate conversation about substances by producing information relating to substances. Team support and develop cooperation between networks and organizations and also pass on information as well as national and international level for example by common campaigns.

• influencing and expert activities
• substance abuse prevention programmes of organisations