At the 23rd Consultative Committee Meeting of the Colombo Plan in Wellington, New Zealand in 1973, the establishment of the Drug Advisory Programme (DAP) was proposed to address the growing drug menace in the region. The Colombo Plan readily embraced this development.
DAP is the only regional intergovernmental programme exclusively aimed at capacity building for drug demand reduction in the Asia and Pacific Region. During the last three decades the DAP has assisted member counties in initiating the process of policy evolution, in finding appropriate solutions on a bilateral and/or multi-lateral basis and in encouraging national efforts among member countries towards drug demand reduction.
Since its inception, DAP has focused on responding to the changing needs of member countries that face multi-faceted problems in regards to illicit drug production, trafficking and abuse. DAP has embarked on several innovative strategies in six arms.
CPDAP Networks
Treatment and Rehabilitation Network
Prevention Network
Youth Network
Publications
Training and Education
Advisory/Expert Network
The services in these networks are also extended to non-member countries, keeping up with the Colombo Plan mandate of self-help and mutual-help in development.
