Some of the most relevant articles from the past year: state of drug treatment worldwide, digital equality, prevention, human rights, etc.
Among the many articles published throughout the year, a review of the top ten 2023 articles based on their relevance, quality and impact
The state of drug treatment worldwide
According to the 2023 World Drug Report (UNODC), drug use remains high worldwide. The estimated number of users increased by 23 per cent from 2011 to 2021, partly due to population growth. An estimated 39.5 million people worldwide had drug use disorders in 2021, an increase from previous years. Only 1 in 5 people with drug use disorders were receiving treatment.
Dianova, 25 years at the service of people
25 years have passed since the foundation of Dianova in 1998. 25 years at the service of people and communities thanks to a network of foundations and associations, now present in 19 countries and four continents. 25 years in which Dianova has treated addictions through actions that support people, their environment and society in general.
Is digital technology a driver or a barrier to gender equality?
Voices are being raised everywhere to demand equal rights, but the world continues to live in a culture where these inequalities remain firmly entrenched, perpetuating barriers to women’s full participation, even in the digital age… On the occasion of International Women’s Day, 8 March, Dianova released its statement to the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW67) in New York.
First and foremost, prevention is a science
The field of prevention is a science that should be monitored and evaluated. It goes far beyond raising awareness of the dangers associated with addiction. Effective prevention should adopt a holistic perspective that includes the social determinants of health, as well as the variables of youth well-being (education, employment, opportunities for empowerment, health, etc.) and vulnerability factors among many others.
For a human rights revolution
The Declaration of Human Rights is 75 years old, but the world is in crisis and these rights are under threat everywhere… Today, respect for human rights no longer seems to be a priority. Democracies are increasingly reluctant to promote these rights among authoritarian regimes, while the latter continue to violate them with impunity, by the force of their economic or military power… It is essential to respect and defend the fundamental framework of an international system based on multilateralism and the promotion of human rights. Only in this way can we guarantee freedom, peace and justice in the world. What we need is a human rights revolution.
It is time to end the global “war on drugs”.
The article highlights the historic position of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on the human rights challenges related to drug policies. Dianova applauds the fact that human rights bodies are addressing the issue of drug policy from a human rights perspective, and that concrete actions have been set out. This is also a decisive period in terms of advocacy, given the proximity of the review of the commitments included in the Ministerial Declaration.
Why does gender matter? Statement to the CND
Research and available data have shown that women and men are affected differently by drugs. In its statement, Dianova calls on the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs to play a greater role in promoting gender equality through gender mainstreaming at all levels.
Addictions among older adults: a hidden reality
Addictions also affect older people, but they do not always have access to the help they need. In fact, addictions in older people can be perpetuated or triggered by various social, economic and/or health factors, which are interrelated and can be different among men or women. It is essential to make the invisible visible and to continue working on improving care for this population group, which is becoming increasingly numerous in care resources.
Bringing severe pain to an end
In 2018, the report published by the Lancet Commission on Global Access to Palliative Care and Pain Relief showed for the first time that more than 68 million people worldwide experience significant suffering associated with their health, 80% of whom live in low- and middle-income countries. The author denounces the glaring injustice in access to opioid painkillers and proposes international collective action to address it.
Language and stigma: the power of words
Dianova publishes “The Power of Words”, an open access document aimed at combating the stigmatization of people who use drugs through language. It aims to make clear recommendations on words to be avoided from now on, while suggesting more respectful alternatives. The document also provides an explanatory overview of the different uses of substances, the causes and consequences of stigmatization and, finally, the process of stigmatization through language.
