Between 9 and 14 May the European Cities Against Drugs (ECAD) conference will be held in Istanbul. This conference is something which has never been promoted in Malta although Malta has been a member of ECAD since the local councils came into existence.
This conference has been held every year in places such as Ireland, Sweden, Switzerland, Cyprus, Norway and other European countries, including Malta. For people who don’t know, ECAD is Europe’s leading organisation, promoting a drug-free Europe and representing millions of Europe citizens.
Drug-dealing and drug abuse cause enormous problems in Europe. Nations and their citizens, including our jewel in the Mediterranean, are affected by the consequences of drug abuse. ECAD member cities, which Valletta joined when Hector Bruno was Valletta mayor, work to develop initiatives and efforts against drug abuse, supporting the United Nations convention which opposes legalisation and promotes policies to eradicate drug abuse worldwide.
Every year this conference presents a significant platform for the participants from all over the world to review the existing situation on drug policy and share best practices from the cities of the world to create further cooperation opportunities.
This conference mobilises and unites all our efforts in order to develop ways of counteracting illicit drugs, which are a genuine scourge on our societies, but also to develop a more determined policy for prevention, rehabilitation and reintegration.
As a Valletta local councillor who has gone to these conferences for the last seven years now, I have always been astounded by the fact that I have never seen a representative of the very able and competent members of Sedqa and Caritas.
Without in any way belittling our policies concerning drug use, it is always very interesting to know what other countries are doing to minimise, if not totally eliminate, the drug problem.
On average, between 7,000 and 8,000 drug-related deaths are reported each year in Europe. Latest data show that they accounted for three per cent of all deaths among adults under the age of 40, although this figure rises to more than seven per cent in Denmark, Greece, Luxembourg, Malta, Austria, the UK and Norway.
As far as Malta is concerned, this does not include the last three drug-related deaths that occurred in a three-week period. These estimates are directly related to drug use, but do not include deaths related to accidents, violence or chronic diseases.
As stated before, yours truly will be representing Malta at the next ECAD conference. The exposure this conference gets is incredible. Cameramen from all the countries concerned come in all eagerness to capture on screen what European countries are doing to conquer drug abuse. Exposure all over the world, except in Malta.
Why? I rest my case.
Valerie Borg
Valletta