Title: From the Chair
Author:
Section/SPIG: Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs
Issue Date:
It has been a challenging year. Economic recession, fear of terrorism, and war, have bred a climate of fear and unease. ATOD issues are as pressing as ever, but they have not been foremost in the public's mind, and as public health professionals, we must remain diligently committed to our public policy priorities.
The post 9/11 atmosphere of fear has also generated changes in governmental procedures and priorities. A sobering example for public health is a recent attempt by Congress to de-fund several NIH, NIMH, and NIDA research grants. Had the attempt to de-fund been successful, scientific research that had already begun would have been cut off because the subjects being studied (including reproductive health and Native American GLBT health issues among others) were considered by some to be politically undesirable. Although advocates were successful in thwarting the action this time, there remains the dangerous potential to undermine the peer review process and further politicize scientific research.
Now, more than ever, we can benefit by joining forces and supporting each other in moving our issues forward. Please join us for the 131st Annual Meeting in San Francisco from Nov. 15-19, 2003. We have an excellent program, and the ATOD awards ceremony/business meeting (on Tuesday, Nov. 18, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.) is the best networking you will find. Our ATOD program is available online at the ATOD Section Web site, and we will have our hard copy version of ATOD sessions available at the ATOD booth in the exhibit hall.
The ATOD Section would like to increase its advocacy efforts this year. If you have issues you would like us to work on, please contact me at <dianac@parca.org>.
Diana Conti
Chair