Contents

Editorial: Consolidation of the Dianova network

"Networking, Cooperation & Innovation in the non-profit Sector" - Lisbon, June 21, 2007

The Pharmacological Approach to the Treatment of Drug Abusers

Camp Deer Run Chosen to Host Free Summer Camp for Children of the US Military

Dianova Briefs

Conference in Sweden

International Video Clips Festival in Alicante

Long-term Project in Uruguay

Dianova Itally

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Dianova Briefs

Dianova Italy

Working to strengthen the sustainability of the Italian association, A progress report from Montse Rafel, Member of the Board of Directors

Since June 2005, several people from Dianova International have been added to the Board of Directors of Dianova Italy to work on searching for solutions for strengthening the sustainability of the Italian Association.

This effort, jointly undertaken by the management team of Dianova Italy and the Board of Directors, has markedly improved our therapeutic interventions. Therapeutic community teams have been strengthened in order to provide service that is better adapted to social realities, and task-specific modules have been opened in order to offer a broader range of health care options (e.g. emergency services, diagnostics and orientation, services specific to couples with children, alcohol, and others).

Along the road, it has been necessary to close some facilities in order to consolidate efforts and alleviate the budgetary deficits resulting from an accumulation of late payments to Dianova Italy by various government agencies (a national average of over 12 months). These delays in payments for services contracted for by the Italian government is one of the fundamental reasons for the financial woes that Dianova Italy is passing through. Moreover, it should be noted that all other non-profit organizations working in this field have experienced similar difficulties.

Dianova personnel in management and leading the therapeutic communities have exhibited a great sense of responsibility and dedication to service in the face of consistent delays in the payments of their salaries, which have forced them to live with a constant sense of precariousness.

Dianova International has been financially and humanly involved, but despite all solidarity efforts, Dianova Italy has had to turn to the banks for financial aid in order to sustain its social services, in spite of the fact that it is compulsory for the Italian government to pay fees for users that are undergoing rehabilitation.

In 2002, 2,000,000 people consumed cannabis and in 2005, 3,800,000. The same trend was seen with the consumption of cocaine, with 350,000 people consuming that drug in 2001, compared to 700,000 during 2005. According to sources from the PISAD (Italian Population, Survey on Alcohol and Drugs), every year 29,000 persons begin consuming heroin, and 9,000 begin consuming cocaine. As a result of these trends, in 2005 300,000 people needed treatment for the problematic abuse of drugs.

It is difficult to provide continuity to the work that NGOs are carrying out in the country of Italy , when, at the same time, they placing their very existence at risk by doing so.  It is incomprehensible that a European state that is a member of the G8 is not serious in seeking solution to this critical problem in the social-health sector.

According to recent statistics published by the EMCDDA (the European Monitoring Center for Durgs and Drug Addiction), for every Euro invested in treatments, society cuts back 10 Euros in the health, social and criminal justice sectors.

All of these difficulties not withstanding, while awaiting publication of this letter advances have been made that allow organised civil society to continue its praiseworthy work.