Dianova’s Parallel Events at the CND

Advances in addiction treatment, relevance and effectiveness of the therapeutic community (TC) treatment model and drug awareness campaigns were among the topics promoted by Dianova at the CND

CND Event

Panel of guest speakers in a parallel event of the CND – photo: Dianova, CC

By Lucía Goberna – One of Dianova’s most important activities at the UN Commission of Narcotic Drugs (CND) this year was the organization of various parallel events. The organization’s central event, “human rights and quality standards in addiction treatment”, has already been reviewed here, but our representatives participated in two additional events:

 “40 years of drugs, drug addiction and recovery: an assessment of the drug situation and its evolution since 1978” – 12 March

The event was organized by the San Patrignano Foundation and sponsored by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the Italian Center for Solidarity -Mario Picchi (CeIS), the Recovered Users Network (RUN) and Dianova International.

The objective of the event was to examine how the drug situation has been developing over recent decades and focus on how addiction treatment programmes have had to adapt to respond to behavioural changes and new drug trends.

Organizations that develop TC-based treatment programs, including San Patrignano, CeIS, and Dianova, shared their best practices in addiction treatment as well as their experience in adapting their programmes and services to address the changes mentioned above. The organizations’ representatives also shared their experience in the implementation of national and international networks.

Various initiatives were also presented, such as a social enterprise programme developed in Sweden and the follow-up studies implemented by RUN and deemed essential for the recovery and social integration of beneficiaries.

“Shedding light on the science of therapeutic communities – reviewing the latest evidence, sharing experiences from different fields and exploring their potential –  13 March

The event was organized by the Greek and Spanish governments, UNODC and the Proyecto Hombre and KETHEA associations. It was co-organized by Dianova International and the World Federation of Therapeutic Communities (WFTC), with the participation of several regional associations of therapeutic communities: the Australasian Therapeutic Communities Association (ACTA), the European Federation of Therapeutic Communities (EFTC), the Latin American Federation of Therapeutic Communities (FLACT), European Treatment Centres for Drug Addiction (Euro-TC) and Treatment Communities of America (TCA).

The event brought together high-level representatives, such as Dr. Gilberto Gerra, Chief of the Department of Addiction Prevention at the Office of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Mario Garcés, Secretary of State for Health, Social Services and Equality (Spain), and Dr. Christina Diamantopoulou-Papoutsopoulou, National Coordinator of the Government for Drugs (Greece).

The event’s purpose was to highlight the importance of therapeutic communities as an effective method for treating addiction. In the course of the session, the Spanish soprano Ainhoa ​​Arteta read a manifesto (representing 906 organizations working in the addiction field – including Dianova) urging the international community and Member States to ensure accessible and affordable treatment for all, especially those most marginalized.

The latest scientific models implemented in TCs – in terms of treatment and care – were presented at the event, as well as various networking experiences.

“Strengthening the Prevention Global Response: International Standards for Drug Prevention”: “Listen First” Campaign and “Stronger Families” Program – March 15

Rui Martins, representative of Dianova International, was selected by the Vienna NGO Committee on Narcotic Drugs (VNGOC) to represent civil society and present Dianova’s experience in implementing the UNODC’s “Listen First” campaign in 14 countries. Because of time limitations, the presentation could not take place, although it is available in the event’s documentation.