6th July 2010

City Briefing 22

The most pervasive world-wide social problem since World War II has been the use and abuse of drugs. Much national and international criminal activity has been based on the drug trade and the USA's law enforcement regime, in particular, has been dominated by its War on Drugs for at least 40 years.

Dr Alex Wodak is one of our most experienced workers in the drug field and the title of his City Briefing points to what he knows:

"100 years of global drug prohibition: too early to say it's failed?"

Alex Wodak is a physician who since 1982 has been Director of the Alcohol and Drug Service at St Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst. His major interests are in the prevention of drug-related problems, harm reduction, the treatment of drug-users in prison and drug policy reform. He is President of the Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation and was President of the International Harm Reduction Association from 1996 to 2004. He has worked in developing countries on controlling HIV infection among injecting drug users. Last month Alex Wodak was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his service to medicine and public health.

Dr Wodak's talk will be on Tuesday 27th July at 5.00pm, with discussion ending as usual with mostly non-addictive refreshments at 6.15pm. The venue is the Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts at 280 Pitt Street (between Park and Bathurst).

We look forward to seeing you once again.

Bob Solomon
Chairman