Oral

In January 2010 the WHO Executive Board endorsed WHO's Global Alcohol Strategy and it is now going to World Health Assembly for a full vote in May. The AMA, APHA, and other organizations have written in support of this important initiative. These deliberations will have significant implications for regional, national and local alcohol policy initiatives. An update of the WHO global burden of disease project, including the work on alcohol that is underway, has informed the WHO Global Alcohol Strategy -- key findings were published in Lancet (June 2009) by Jürgen Rehm et al. There are significant initiatives in developing national alcohol policies in Central and South American Countries. The book entitled Alcohol No Ordinary Commodity (second edition), by Thomas Babor et al., is scheduled for release in Spring 2010. It includes chapters that provide resources for international, national and local alcohol policies. This session will have four presentations. Don Zeigler (AMA, Chicago): “Overview of the WHO Global Alcohol Strategy – Background advocacy, rationale, and update on action” [Abstract ID 217343]. Jürgen Rehm (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and University of Toronto): “New evidence on burden of disease from alcohol and epidemiological support for the WHO's Global Alcohol Strategy”. Maristela Monteiro (Pan American Health Organization): “Burden of alcohol in the Americas and regional implications of the WHO global alcohol strategy” [ID: 215490]. Thomas Babor (University of Connecticut): “Alcohol: No Ordinary Commodity (second edition): Implications for national and local policies” [ID 217124]. The discussant is Linda Bosma (Bosma Consulting, Minneapolis).

Session Objectives: Explain the central dimensions of WHO's Global Alcohol Strategy. Identify the key components of advoacy that contributed to developing this strategy. Demonstrate the core epidemiological research that supported central dimensions of this strategy.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH)