Drug Abuse Monitoring in Israel, Egypt and the Palestinian Authority
Mohamed Afifi, M.D. Richard Isralowitz, Ph. D.
Nasser Loza, MDRichard Rawson, Ph.D.
Picture Jerusalem
Picture Safe Passage to Gaza
Project Background 1 1997 Educational program organized by
ECF (Oslo Accord Group) with Israeli Foreign Ministry, Palestinian Council of Health and USAID and Dutch Government
Group of 40 Palestinians and Israelis met in Beersheva and a Palestinian group of 75 health and religious leaders in Gaza Strip to discuss nature/extent of drug problems in Middle East.
Project Background 2 Participants included health, police and
political leaders. Israeli side presented some data on
heroin and marijuana use. Palestinian presented anecdotal information and concerns.
Considerable acrimony/mutual accusations about source of illegal drugs.
Project Background 3 Palestinian and Israeli leaders
organize a series of bi-lateral meetings in Palestinian/Israeli communities.
Week-long training at Al Quds University for 200 Palestinian professionals, attended by senior Palestinian/Israeli/ WHO officials plus 2 day bi-lateral Beersheva workshop
Project Background 4 Group of 8 Palestinian and Israeli
professionals travel to Los Angeles (funded by Friends Research Institute) for planning session.
Decision made to apply for Middle East Regional Cooperation grant to establish a Israeli-Palestinian drug abuse monitoring system, produce an article and edited book.
Project Background 5 MERC Application submitted Dec
1999 Book contract (Praeger-
Greenwood), Jan 2000; Article to Addiction outlined.
MERC Application Drug abuse is important for public health,
criminal justice and political reasons. Nature and extent of drug abuse problems
poorly documented in Israel (Russian immigrants poorly studied: MDMA use believed extensive, but no data.
Drug use in Palestinian Territory unknown but believed to be heroin, marijuana, inhalants.
MERC Application 2 Collection of data needs multiple
approaches sampling key populations including high school students, arrestees, individuals in health system.
Stakeholders need to involve public health, criminal justice and political leaders.
Venue for presenting/interpreting data should involve tri-lateral group, with US researchers to provide technical support.
MERC PLAN Establish 3 data collection methods
(school survey, reporting from hospitals, urine collection/survey from arrestees.
Data will be collected from 2 Israeli cities (Haifa and Beersheva), 2 Gaza cities (Gaza City and Khan Younis) and 2 West Bank cities (Ramallah and Hebron)
Rick and Pilou at dead sea
MERC PROJECT Intifada Began Sept 200 MERC Grant Approved May, 2001 Initial meet in Tel Aviv in June 2001,
Afiffi unable to leave Gaza. Afifi travels to Los Angeles, August
2001 All 3 parties meet in Washington DC
October 2001 and visit US Agencies.
MERC PLAN Budget: $500,000 for 2 years
US: (Friends Research Institute) $75K
Israel: (Ben Gurion U) $150K Palestinians: (Substance Abuse
Research Center, an NGO) $250K
MERC I Work Accomplished Book Published 2002 Article in Addiction 2001 Survey of drug use among 1000
Palestinian students in Gaza Survey of 1000 high risk youth in
Israel 15 Presentations at national and
international Meeting
MERC I Work Accomplished 14 Training events with Israelis
and Palestinians Identification of an Egyptian team Submission of MERC II: Israel and
Egypt MERC II Approved in Dec 2003
Great Sphinx
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MERC II Israel and Egypt
Data collection on drug abuse treatmentin Israel and Egypt
Extensive training conducted in both countries
Another 18 professional trainings and presentations in Israel and Egypt
To date, 4 international presentations
Israel Group
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Recent Developments Conference planned for Cairo Oct
2004 Will include UNODC and its group of 27
regional experts (North Africa and Gulf) Will include WHO and 42 country
region (Morroco to Pakistan) National Institute on Drug Abuse Sponsored by UCLA
Recent Developments Institute of Peace Grant for conference
in Spring of 2005 in region with Arab and Israeli participation
Potential involvement of the Rockefeller Institute and Facility in Bellagio, Italy
MERC III: Israel and Lebanon under review
LESSONS LEARNED Oaks do grow from acorns, if
provided the necessary follow up and hard work.
Communicate respect Focus on good science Stay flexible and patient Engage necessary scientific advisors
LESSONS LEARNED Minimize political discussions Maintain low profile and
understand political needs of all parties
Relationships matter Don’t do it for the money
Jafa Evening
Bazaar in cairo
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