New York, 11 February 2021. Dr Maristela Monteiro, senior advisor on alcohol and substance abuse of PAHO participated as a key speaker at the side event organized by Movendi International at the 59th session of the Commission for Social Development (CSocD59) at the United Nations in New York.
The priority theme of the Commission was “Socially just transition towards sustainable development: the role of digital technologies on social development and well-being of all.” The topic of the side event was on how digital technologies can be used to achieve SDG 3.5, which relates to the coverage of treatment for substance use disorders and the reduction in harmful use of alcohol, as measured by the total annual alcohol per capita consumption.
Alcohol is a major obstacle to development, adversely affecting 14 of 17 SDGs and all aspects of development. Therefore, SDG 3.5 addresses the need for prevention and treatment interventions to tackle alcohol harm and foster well-being and development for all.
The side event discussed lessons learned from trailblazing innovators from around the world, to show how digital technology helps people overcome alcohol and other mental health problems, builds community and becomes a platform for broader social change, including opportunities and challenges. Here is the link to the video recording of the session. https://youtu.be/2tF0Mxu1tSA