Alcohol situation, it’s impacts and control measures in Sri Lanka Pubudu Sumanasekara Executive Director Alcohol and Drug Information centre (ADIC) Sri Lanka 15.07.2009-Stop Drinking

ADIC OUTREACH 23 OUT OF 25 DISTRICTS ARE COVERED USING VARIOUS MICHANISAMS. WORKING DIRECTLY WORKING THROUGH OTHER NGOO VARIOUS PROJECTS

International Awards Received WHO AWARD IFNGO AWARD COMMONWEALTH AWARD DURING THE YEAR 2001 ADIC(SRI LANKA) WAS INVITED TO THE ALCOHOL POLICY STRATERGY ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION TO REPREESENT THE SOUTH EAST ASIAN REGION.

ADIC Programmes Strategic intervention Policy Advocacy and Litigation Social mobilization(School, Community and Media) Strategic intervention Policy Advocacy and Litigation Human Development and Innovative Intervention Research and Information Plantation Prevention of transmission of HIV/AIDS among drug users Finance and Accounts

Problem Alcohol Rural communities spend 1/3rd of their family expenditure on alcohol (Mirisankotuwa Research). Estate sector spend half of their family expenditure spend on alcohol (ADIC Plantation Research).

Health Indicators in Sri Lanka Number of cases of hospitalization on Alcoholic Psychosis , Alcohol Dependence and Alcohol withdrawal (Excludes data from private sector medical institutions) Source – Statistics of Ministry of health , Government of Sri Lanka

Health Indicators in Sri Lanka Hospitalization due to Chronic Liver Disease (Excludes data from private sector medical institutions) NUMBERS Source – Statistics of Ministry of health , Government of Sri Lanka

Other problems Violence Discipline Relationship Absenteeism Productivity Nutrition levels

Alcohol Prevalence Source – Spot Survey 2008 December

Alcohol Production Source – Excise reports

Attitudes on Alcohol Reasons for alcohol use Reasons for not using alcohol Source – Spot Survey 2008 December

Major Health Risk Factors Bangladesh, Bhutan, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore Cambodia, China, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Mongolia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Viet Nam Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand Source: World Health Organization 2004

Approach Moralistic ? Religious ? Scientific ? Do users really enjoy alcohol? Why youth start consuming alcohol while knowing the harm and unpleasantness

The highest number of smoking incidents in the past 12 years has been recorded in movies featuring the Indian super star Sharuk Khan. The second highest is noted in films featuring the South Indian superstar Ragini Kanth.

The approach Opinion makers and professionals Media Policy Industry Field level (communities) Non - users users youth women children

Approach cont. Reduce the attractiveness of the image alcohol Reducing unfair privileges attached to alcohol use Improving recognition of the real harm form alcohol use Counteracting the forces that promote increased consumption Encouraging quitting or reduction of use Formulation and implementation of effective policies local and beyond etc.

Strategies to address alcohol problems Do not alienate users Mobilize every single structure in the community Develop expertise within the community and transfer ownership of the programme to the community through empowering people Include everyone in the community (sellers, users, non users, children, youth, women, political leaders) while using target group specific systems Integrate prevention activities in to the community agenda and daily life of the people Make prevention activities fun simple and attractive

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