International Council on Alcohol and Addictions
Conseil international sur les problèmes de l’ alcoolisme et des toxicomanies
International Council on Alcohol and Addictions
Conseil international sur les problèmes de l’ alcoolisme et des toxicomanies
ICAA is dedicated to preventing and reducing the harmful use and effects of alcohol, tobacco, other drugs and addictive behaviours on individuals, families, communities and society.
ICAA sensitises, empowers and educates organisations and individuals in the interest of public health, personal and social well being. It does so through a range of activities at international, regional and local levels and through services provided to its membership and the interested public at large.
ICAA believes in the exchange of evidence-based knowledge and innovative approaches. It is committed to undertake this in an independent, apolitical inclusive and transparent manner.
ICAA is an independent, neutral, international Non-Governmental Organisation in Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and enjoying a close relationship with the WHO.
Through a range of activities at international, regional and local levels and services provided to its membership and the interested public at large, ICAA sensitises, empowers and educates organisations and individuals in the interest of public health, personal and social well being.
ICAA provides an environment within which players on the professional and public scene can come together, recognize one another's achievements and objectives, and despite divergence in views, professions and competence, learn from and share with one another. ICAA is in a unique position to foster international progress and understanding among those concerned with dependence problems all over the world. In the coming decade it will do so through creating and supporting a dynamic non-partisan Confederation of specialist Sections.
ICAA is dedicated to preventing and reducing the harmful use and effects of alcohol, tobacco, other drugs and addictive behaviours on individuals, families, communities and society.
Through a range of activities at international, regional and local levels and services provided to its membership and the interested public at large, ICAA sensitises, empowers and educates organisations and individuals in the interest of public health, personal and social well being.
ICAA believes in the exchange of evidence-based knowledge and innovative approaches. It is committed to undertake this in an independent, apolitical, inclusive and transparent manner.
The uniqueness of ICAA lies in its character as an association where all concerned about or involved in the prevention or limitation of harmful dependent behaviour can associate to share experience in this field even if their approaches and attitudes to the means of handling these problems in society may differ. ICAA provides an environment within which players on the professional and public scene can come together, recognize one another's achievements and objectives, and despite divergence in views, professions and competence, learn from and share with one another. ICAA has a mission to perform and is in a unique position to foster international progress and understanding among those concerned with dependence problems all over the world.
ICAA was first established as the International Bureau Against Alcoholism (IBAA) during the 11th International Congress Against Alcoholism in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1907. Its headquarters were set up in Lausanne, Switzerland.
As it continued in its purpose to gather and make available scientific information on alcohol related issues and events to governments and individuals, the Bureau became the organisational secretariat of the International Congresses on Alcoholism. Its contacts with international bodies such as the Health Secretariat of the League of Nations in Geneva presaged future cooperation in later years with the United Nations, the World Health Organisation, and other specialized agencies.
In 1968 and in line with the recommendations of the WHO's Expert Committee on Services for the Prevention and Treatment of Dependence on Alcohol and other Drugs, ICAA became the International Council on Alcohol and Addictions (ICAA). At the height of its success ICAA was the leading international body in the alcohol field. It provided an informed consultative resource to bodies including the WHO and United Nations and delivered highly successful and well-supported conferences. Its success was based on two key facts. First, there was no other body addressing alcohol issues - the most significant addiction problem -at a global level. Secondly ICAA was able to call together diverse, top-level international experts to present the latest research, to discuss and advise on policy direction for a diversity of topics to a global audience and to consider and debate strategic options for addressing a multiplicity of addiction issues.
With the inclusion of drug dependence in its programmes, the Council expanded its contacts with a growing number of international governmental and non-governmental organisations. As such, ICAA was granted in 1968 consultative status with the United Nation's Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and was offered the status of being in official relationship with the World Health Organisation (WHO).
ICAA's role as a global focal point for those concerned with addictive behaviours has proved of considerable value and through time its scope has extended to incorporate nicotine dependence and gambling. In recent times issues of on-line gaming and internet dependence have entered its scientific agenda and will undoubtedly contribute to the future shape of ICAA activities.